On Wednesday, I attended a Senate Appropriations health subcommittee hearing on the 2012 budget proposal for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH supports more than 325,000 scientists and research personnel, who work at over 3,000 institutions across the U.S. and abroad. Testifying at the hearing was NIH Director Francis Collins.

In order to improve our country’s health care system, we must reduce health care costs. Some of the best ways to reduce costs are through disease prevention and wellness promotion, and I believe medical research plays a vital role in keeping Americans healthy. During the hearing, I asked Director Collins to explain how medical research at NIH can reduce health care spending, and he responded with an example regarding Alzheimer’s disease. He said the costs of this disease are expected to rise from about $180 billion currently to roughly $1 trillion by 2050. However, medical research that led to treatments that delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease could save billions. Director Collins also explained how medical research contributed to reducing the mortality rate for heart attack victims by 60 percent in recent decades at an annual low cost of around $3.70 per American.

Additionally, I discussed with Director Collins important medical research currently taking place in Kansas of which I am very proud. I recently visited the Specialized Chemistry Center (SCC) at the University of Kansas, which was established under a $20.2 million NIH research award. SCC is part of the NIH Molecular Libraries Program, which focuses on chemical biology research to yield scientific discoveries leading to new drugs and medical products. This unique research provides hope to those stricken with disease, and enhances a growing pharmaceutical industry in Kansas. There is much excitement at KU with SCC leading the way with this cutting-edge research. Click here to see video clips of my discussions with Director Collins.