The Endocrine Society presented U.S. Senate Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) with the Biomedical Research Champion Award during a ceremony today at its annual meeting.
The award recognizes and commends members of Congress who strive to advance endocrine research and enhance public understanding of health issues pertaining to the field of endocrinology.
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Durbin has worked to accelerate and secure financial support for research.
"Sen. Durbin has led the way in acknowledging the importance of biomedical research to all Americans," said Teresa K. Woodruff, PhD, president of the Endocrine Society. "He has fought to increase funding and create new revenue streams for the National Institutes of Health. I'm proud to honor my senator for his tireless efforts to advance research needed to identify the medical treatments of tomorrow."
In March, Sen. Durbin introduced legislation called the American Cures Act. The proposed bill, endorsed by the Endocrine Society, would create a trust fund to support a mandatory funding stream for biomedical research. The bill would increase funding annually for NIH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Defense Health Program, and Veterans Medical & Prosthetics Research Program at a rate of five percent.
Dr. Woodruff presented Sen. Durbin with the award during a ceremony held at McCormick Place today. More than 10,000 endocrinologists are attending the Endocrine Society's meeting, ICE/ENDO 2014, there this week.
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