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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Amy Auth
202-225-2071

United States Rep. Virginia Foxx (N.C.-5) is pleased to announce that she has cleared the final legislative hurdle to obtain funds to benefit the National Regenerative Medicine Center at Wake Forest University. Rep. Foxx was able to secure $750,000 for the project in the FY06 Energy and Water Appropriations Conference report that passed the House this afternoon. The legislation will now go to President Bush’s desk for final approval.

“I am delighted that these vital funds I have been fighting for were included in this conference report,” said Rep. Foxx. “The research being done at Wake Forest has real-world implications for our military who face great risks and sometimes lose limbs or organs during combat. As medical technology improves, the opportunity to avert or minimize these injuries may come through the development of tissue engineering treatments.”

The team at the National Regenerative Medicine Center at Wake Forest is pioneering groundbreaking research into the use of autologous tissues to treat battlefield injuries. These tissues could potentially result in saving limbs or organs, including the replacement of cartilage, muscle, nerves, and blood vessels. Autologous tissues are derived from the patient’s own cells and are capable of correcting a number of pathologies and injuries. The use of autologous cells eliminates the risks of rejection and immunological reactions and drastically reduces the time that patients must wait for lifesaving surgery. The use of autologous tissues to create functional organs is one of the most important and groundbreaking steps ever taken in medicine.

“The funds included in this conference report will support the continued research of an experienced team of scientists at the Regenerative Center, allow them to upgrade their facilities and to speed their research process,” said Rep. Foxx.

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