N.E. AND OTHER MEDTECH REGIONS WOULD BE HIT HARD BY PROPOSED NIH CUTS, BUSINESS LEADER SAYS

A bill recently approved by a House panel has raised concerns in the medical technology industry that research programs sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will suffer funding cuts.

The House Appropriations Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee voted 9-7 along party lines June 7 to approve a draft bill that includes nearly across-the-board cuts in NIH programs. Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.) expressed outrage over the cuts.

Reports have cited concern among researchers, the next generation of potential innovators and industry about the impact of the cuts on medical technology development.

The proposed cuts not only threaten "the development of lifesaving scientific breakthroughs" but also have "a detrimental impact on regional economies that are dependent on innovation -- and New England is at the forefront," said James Brett, president and CEO of the New England Council, in a recent editorial in The Boston Globe. He wants Congress to support a 5 percent increase in NIH funding.

To view the editorial, go to www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/07/05/setbacks_for_medical_research/ (http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/07/05/setbacks_for_medical_research/).