Edwards to Announce Earmarking of Research Funds for RCHI and CMDD Project

Congressman Chet Edwards, Chancellor Robert McTeer and Dr. Nancy Dickey To Announce Federal Funding Earmarked for A&M Health Science Center Programs
WHO: U.S. Representative Chet Edwards, Dr. Robert McTeer, Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, and Dr. Nancy Dickey, President of The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center and Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs for the A&M System
WHAT: Press conference to announce $7 million in federal funding earmarked for two groundbreaking programs in which the A&M Health Science Center plays key roles: a Trauma Registry and Research Database being created by the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, and the Vaccine Delivery Program, a project of the Center for Microencapsulation and Drug Delivery (CMDD).
WHEN: Friday, May 13, 2005, 11 a.m.
WHERE: Lobby of the Joe H. Reynolds Medical Building, on the West Campus of Texas A&M University
BACKGROUND: Congressman Chet Edwards is Ranking Democrat on the Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. He has taken action to add a total of $7 million in funding for two key programs involving the A&M Health Science Center. This action will go to the full Appropriations Committee for approval prior to a House vote. Congressman Edwards has earmarked funding as follows:
· $3 million for the Vaccine Delivery Program, a project within the Center for Microencapsulation and Drug Delivery (CMDD). CMDD is a multidisciplinary faculty group from the A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine and four other colleges with the capability to design and test delivery of vaccines and pharmaceuticals. A high priority for center research is one-time delivery of vaccines, drugs and antidotes in human medicine using new types of slowly dissolving capsules and nanoparticles. The newest methods allow personnel to carry vaccine capsules and medications in their pockets and take orally if needed in a crisis situation. While these are immediately useful to military personnel, such products may also protect the general public against deliberate release of harmful agents including bacteria, viruses and toxins.
· $4 million for the A&M Health Science Center Rural and Community Health Institute (RCHI)’s work relating to a Department of Defense-funded project to create a Trauma Registry and Research Database. RCHI will partner with Altarum and The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAIR) in this project. With advances in battlefield medical care and personal armament for soldiers, survivability for injured soldiers is at an all-time high. However, many survivors are faced with recovering from severe traumatic injuries. Currently there is no methodology that can accurately assess the trauma being faced in today’s conflicts, nor a soldier’s treatment and recovery from those wounds over time. This project will fill this gap.
Dr. Nancy Dickey states, “This is a magnificent vote of confidence by Representative Edwards in the A&M Health Science Center as a whole and in two important new arenas in our research. Our researchers will make the fullest possible use of this funding to further the important work of CMDD and RCHI in these areas.”