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House approves $3,000,000 for Wake Forest medical research
Washington, DC,
August 9, 2007
Congresswoman Virginia Foxx today announced that the U.S. House of Representatives approved $3,000,000 in funding for the Wake Forest University Health Sciences alternatives to transplantation program. The Wake Forest medical research pr
Contact: Aaron Groen
Congresswoman Virginia Foxx today announced that the U.S. House of Representatives approved $3,000,000 in funding for the Wake Forest University Health Sciences alternatives to transplantation program. The Wake Forest medical research program is based in Winston Salem. The funding was included in the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 (H.R. 2641) and the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of2008 (H.R. 3222). “These funds will support the life-changing research being done right now at Wake Forest,” Foxx said. “The experts at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine are engaged in pioneering tissue research that may soon provide an alternative to organ transplantation that will change the face of modern medicine.” The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine does groundbreaking research into the use of autologous tissues as an alternative to transplantation or reconstructive surgery. Autologous tissues are derived from the patient’s own cells and are capable of correcting numerous medical problems. The first human application of cell-based tissue engineering was conducted by Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine researchers. “We are very excited to receive this funding and are extremely grateful to Congresswoman Foxx for her invaluable help throughout the process,” said Dr. Anthony Atala, Director of Wake Forest University’s Institute for Regenerative Medicine. “This funding will allow us to move forward and develop energy efficient processes to create engineered tissues and organs,” Dr. Atala said. “This is truly groundbreaking research, and will have a major positive impact on our healthcare system for the millions of Americans with conditions that require transplantation.” Wake Forest University Health Sciences has invested more than $60 million in the Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the National Regenerative Medicine Center. Over 80 researchers at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine are currently working to apply regenerative medicine techniques to build new organs and tissues such as kidneys, blood vessels, hearts, livers, pancreases, muscles, and nerves. “Wake Forest is on the cutting edge of regenerative medicine,” Foxx said, “and I am pleased that this funding will support their continued research and allow them to upgrade their facilities to take advantage of new technology.” The House passed H.R. 2641 by a vote of 312 to 112 and H.R. 3222 by a vote of 395 to 13. Both bills are now before the Senate for consideration. ### |
