Research Roundup: What We’re Reading this Week

In this guest post, Stewart Parker, CEO of the Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI), discusses working in Washington State’s global health community. IDRI, a GHTC member, conducts research and development for products to prevent, detect, and treat infectious diseases of poverty. This post originally appeared on the Washington Global Health Alliance’s Voices of Global Health blog to mark Global Health Month. Stewart Parker is CEO of the Infectious Disease Research Institute What sparked your interest in global health? I’ve always loved being in biotech for the opportunity to both do good and do well. Global health is the ultimate step for me; I get to spend every day of the week helping to solve seemingly intractable disease problems! What could be better than that? What three words would you use to describe Washington State’s global health community? COLLABORATIVE. VIBRANT. FUN What do you think is the best way for individuals to contribute to Washington’s global health work? First, educate yourself. Global health problems affect all of us, so don’t be an ostrich! Second, do a little research and find an organization that you like…and support it. There are lots of volunteer opportunities, in addition to donating money. Third, spread the word. If you learn about a project or an organization that you like, help be an ambassador for that effort. What is the greatest joy in your work? The people. Working with smart people, meeting our partners in countries affected by neglected disease, and meeting people who are benefiting from our products. What is the greatest challenge in your work? I always want progress to occur faster than it does! Developing vaccines is a difficult challenge, and it takes time to do studies that are rigorous and support the movement of the vaccine product through the clinical trial process. I always want to do things with the highest standards, and we always will. But the timelines are sometimes frustrating.

In this feature on Breakthroughs, we provide an update on what’s currently happening with global health in Congress and an outlook for future legislative activity. Following the August recess and Labor Day Holiday, Congress is now back for a very brief time before it takes another break to focus intensely on campaigning ahead of the November elections. We don’t expect much action on legislation specific to global health or research programs. Instead, Congress will focus on passing a Continuing Resolution (CR) for fiscal year 2013 in order to keep the government running through the end of March 2013, as members juggle the remaining legislative tasks on their plate. The CR actually includes a tiny 0.6 percent increase across the board for all federal programs, including those that fund global health research. However, the resolution will expire long after the looming budget sequestration goes into effect in January 2013 and will also run into the fiscal year 2014 budget process, effectively creating a budgeting perfect storm. Advocates for a wide range of federal programs are in high gear to convince Congress to delay sequestration or to pass a balanced budget in its place. Some of those advocates have found congressional allies willing to take on their cause. Also this week, we’re looking for a report from the Obama Administration on the potential impact of sequestration on federal agencies. As we outlined in our last update, sequestration could result in cuts ranging from 8.5 percent to 14 percent to most federal programs, depending on the outcome of the budget negotiations in Congress and the November elections. Sequestration would undoubtedly have a significant impact on global health and research programs at agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense, the US Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and the US Agency for International Development. We’re eager to see this report and learn more about how sequestration might impact efforts supported by these agencies to develop new lifesaving global health tools. Global health research and development (R&D) programs span the breadth of the US budget. Congress needs to work to protect these essential R&D programs from disproportionate cuts and ensure that funding is sustained—and increased if possible—for the coming years. Although the elections may be on the top of everyone’s to-do list for now, temporary budget fixes that leave these activities vulnerable to indiscriminate cuts and similar actions will not work forever. We need a plan that protects global health R&D and other key programs for the long-term, and right now, that job starts with Congress.