The Ad Hoc Group for
Medical Research Funding

Press Release

Ad Hoc Group Praises Legislators for Recognizing Dr. Ruth Kirschstein's Contributions to Medical Research and the NIH

Washington, D.C., May 22, 2002 - Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research Funding Chairman Richard Knapp, Ph.D., today praised Senators Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Congressmen Ralph Regula (R-Ohio) and David Obey (D-Wis.) for renaming NIH's National Research Service Awards after NIH Deputy Director Ruth L. Kirschstein, M.D. "The Ad Hoc Group and the advocacy community were seeking a way to honor Dr. Kirschstein's brilliant NIH career and commitment to future generations of scientists," Dr. Knapp said. "This is a fitting tribute to Dr. Kirschstein for her service to the nation, and for her recent lengthy tenure as Acting Director of NIH, and we applaud the Congress for providing her this recognition."

Senator Harkin announced that he and his colleagues would name NIH's most important research training grants the "Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards" as he chaired this morning's Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee on Parkinson's Disease. Senator Harkin said the legislative change would be inserted into the Supplemental Appropriations bill that the Senate begins marking up this week. Currently, NIH supports over 16,700 pre-doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows through National Research Service Awards, investing over $650 million in helping to develop the nation's future biomedical researchers.

The Ad Hoc Group is a coalition of more than 300 patient and voluntary health groups, medical and scientific societies, academic and research organizations, and industry. The Ad Hoc Group has one mission: to enhance the federal investment in biomedical, behavioral, and population-based research by increasing the funding for the National Institutes of Health.

Contact: Jonathan Fishburn (202-828-0525; jfishburn@aamc.org)