Florida Action Center

MEDIA ADVISORY                                                     

For More Information:

Shannon Colavecchio

850.224.0174 (office)

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shannonc@moore-pr.com

For Immediate Release

health advocates, researchers urge legislature to fund king and bankhead-coley biomedical research programs

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 14, 2010) — Health advocates and researchers on Wednesday joined leading lawmakers Sen. Don Gaetz and Rep. Marti Coley to urge the full Legislature to act on pending legislation that would reauthorize and fully fund the James & Esther King Biomedical and Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research programs, which have already supported thousands of Florida jobs while providing more than $100-million to universities, biomedical research institutes and cancer centers for life-saving research.

The King and Bankhead-Coley programs are subject to a sunset review this year and will expire in January 2011 unless the Legislature acts. Sen. Gaetz is sponsoring legislation to maintain and fund the programs in the Senate, where the chamber has shown enthusiastic support, including a combined allocation of $49.2 million in the upper chamber’s budget. But the House has included only $2.2 million for the King program and has not yet considered the reauthorization legislation, sponsored by Rep. Coley, whose late husband is a namesake for the Bankhead-Coley program established in 2006. The King Biomedical research program is a legacy of the late Sen. James King of Jacksonville.

“These programs are poised to save untold lives through cutting-edge research, and our constituents throughout Florida are counting on us to continue investing in their future health,” said Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna. “We owe it to every person ever struck by cancer, including my late husband, to keep these important programs alive.”

The Legislature last year set aside five percent of proceeds, or up to $50 million, from the new tobacco surcharge revenues to be divided evenly between the King and Bankhead-Coley programs. The investment was part of the state’s commitment to biomedical research and the economic development that stems from it through high-wage jobs and business development. The two programs, through January 2010, have allocated $124 million in research grants to institutions, including the University of South Florida, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, the University of Florida, the University of Miami, Florida State University, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Orlando. Moreover, the grants have supported nearly 3,000 Florida jobs for scientists, post-doctoral researchers, as well as research associates, lab technicians, nurses and biostatisticians.

A legislative report published in September 2009 by the Senate Committee on Health Regulation concluded that both biomedical research programs are helping to “solidify the state’s commitment to biomedical research” by “attracting additional biomedical and biotechnology industry to the state.”

“The King and Bankhead-Coley programs have proven to be a worthy investment of Florida taxpayer dollars,” said Sen. Gaetz, R-Niceville, chairman of the Senate health regulation committee. “They are not just going to save lives by funding cancer research. They are helping us to reshape Florida’s economy through new high-paying jobs, businesses and research hubs from Miami to the Panhandle.”

Advocates including the American Cancer Society warned Wednesday that if the full Legislature doesn’t act soon, it will mean the end of two important and proven research programs that since 2000 have already reaped a significant return on investment – with the potential to help future generations.

“These programs are the centerpiece of the state’s efforts to build Florida’s cancer research infrastructure," said Dr. Danny Armstrong of the University of Miami, medical vice chairman of the board for the American Cancer Society’s Florida Division. “Because of this commitment over the past decade, Florida is an emerging leader in cancer research. And there is enormous opportunity to expand even more in the next ten years. The Florida Legislature must save these programs and ensure they are fully funded.”

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem through research, education, advocacy, and service. In Florida, there are three Hope Lodges, more than 35 American Cancer Society offices, and approximately 100,000 active volunteers. For information about cancer, call toll-free anytime 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit the American Cancer Society Web site at www.cancer.org.

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