ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- June 27, 2016 -- Research!America today unveiled the Campaign for Cures 2016 election blog and an online interactive map of the United States featuring hundreds of quotes on medical progress from candidates across the political spectrum running for national office. Managed by former USA Today senior editor and health reporter Janice Lloyd, the blog features election news, survey data, commentary and analysis of Presidential and Congressional races in key states on topics relevant to medical progress. The map and blog are the latest resources for voters as part of Campaign for Cures: Vote for Medical Progress, a national voter education initiative supported by Research!America and partner organizations.
"Our nation is facing health threats from literally A to Z -- Alzheimer's to the Zika virus," said Research!America president and CEO Mary Woolley. "The status quo is not good enough; Americans want better, putting all the elements of the research and innovation continuum to work at full throttle to find solutions to what ails us. The election cycle is the ideal time to ask candidates for President and Congress what they would do to assure a healthier future for Americans. With our voter education initiative, we are encouraging all those who care about research for health to contact their candidates and urge those who have been silent on the issue to speak up before Election Day."
Visitors can view quotes on issues related to public and private sector research and innovation from candidates who win their state primaries. Research!America invites all candidates, presidential and congressional candidates, to submit quotes to include on the map. Voters have the option of contacting candidates directly through email messages and social media on the campaign website. Sample messages are available in an online tool kit.
Quotes from candidates in the Illinois 10th Congressional District race are among those featured on the interactive map. "A strong investment in medical research today will not only save lives but will also save taxpayers money in the future because curing a patient costs our healthcare system far less than treating their symptoms," said Rep. Robert Dold (R). "I support robust funding for the National Institutes of Health so that our researchers, who we know are some of the best in the world, can focus on what they do best -- working to find cures."
"American innovation has changed the world, and the next generation of inventions will be the direct result of our investment in research and development," said challenger former Rep. Bradley Schneider (D). "As we struggle to get our economy back on track, we can't lose sight of these important investments. In Congress, I consistently advocated for maintaining government investment in both basic and applied science, as well as support for ongoing incentives for corporate R&D."
New medicines and effective prevention strategies have saved millions of lives but there is much more to do. Campaign for Cures will elevate the importance of research and innovation in combating disease, strengthening the economy and maintaining our nation's global competitiveness. Throughout the election, Research!America and partners will be spearheading strategic grassroots activities, communications initiatives and work with preeminent voter education groups to elevate medical research and innovation in the national conversation. The initiative has dedicated Facebook and Twitter accounts, videos from researchers urging candidates to assign a higher priority to medical innovation and highlights recent election news and events.
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Campaign for Cures partners include Pfizer, the Society for Neuroscience, Alzheimer's Association, PhRMA, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, University of Maryland School of Medicine, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, American Public Health Association, American Association for Cancer Research, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Penn Medicine, The Whitehead Institute and The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
About Research!America
Research!America is the nation's largest nonprofit public education and advocacy alliance working to make research to improve health a higher national priority. Founded in 1989, Research!America is supported by member organizations representing 125 million Americans. Visit http://www.researchamerica.org.
Contact:
Anna Briseño
571-482-2737