Blunt discusses health fund

Senator Roy Blunt visited Truman State Jan. 6 to participate in a discussion with University and Adair County officials about the $2 billion increase in funds for the National Institutes of Health. Funding will go toward many areas of disease research, including Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

Alzheimer’s disease research, National Cancer Senator Roy Blunt, R-Mo., visited Truman State Jan. 6 to get input from University and local officials about the $2 billion increase in appropriated funds for the National Institutes of Health. The U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies passed the appropriations bill during early 2015, according to a December press release from Blunt’s office.

The bill increased the NIH funds from nearly $30 billion to $32 billion. These funds will be used in areas including Institute research and disease treatment, the New Precision Medicine Initiative and other types of disease and pediatric research efforts according to the press release.

Missouri universities and research institutions received more than $457.9 million from last year’s NIH funds to take part in related research developments, according to the press release.

More information will be made available next week regarding Truman’s roundtable discussion and what this funding could mean for the future of Missouri residents.