Texas State joins Research!America to further healthcare research

Posted by Jayme Blaschke
Office of Media Relations
October 12, 2017

Texas State University has joined Research!America, an organization dedicated to advocacy and public education for medical and health research.

Membership into the prestigious organization was approved this fall by Research!America’s board of directors.

"We are proud that Texas State University has joined an elite group of national institutions which are partnering with Research!America to advance health research," said Texas State President Denise M. Trauth. "Our membership in Research!America is another indication that Texas State is committed to growing an already strong portfolio of research programs that will promote the health and economic vitality of Texas and the nation."

Research!America is the nation’s largest not-for-profit 501(c)3 public education and advocacy alliance working to elevate medical progress to a higher national priority. Founded in 1989, the alliance works to increase public and policymaker awareness of the health and economic benefits of medical and health research, and to build a strong base of citizen support for research and innovation.

“Research conducted at Texas State University is part of the solution to addressing local and national health threats -- and spurring economic growth in the state. We are pleased to welcome Texas State University as a member of Research!America’s alliance, which is composed of stakeholders across the research continuum, from academia to patient groups to industry, all dedicated to accelerating medical progress,” said Mary Woolley, president and CEO of Research!America. “Texas State is making significant contributions to our growing body of scientific knowledge and application in combating deadly disease with innovative research. We look forward to collaborating with the university on initiatives to increase federal, state and private-sector support for medical and health research.”

Research!America's 350-plus membership is comprised of stakeholders across the research ecosystem: academia, industry, patient advocacy organizations, scientific societies, academic health centers, independent research institutes and foundations. The organization works to ensure that Congress and the White House support the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Science Foundation at funding levels that keep pace with scientific opportunity.

"Texas State has a demonstrated strength in translational health research as evidenced by our success with funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas, and others," said Gene Bourgeois, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Texas State. "Our partnership with Research!America will allow Texas State to bring our strengths to the national stage and provide significant resources for our faculty to continue their success in obtaining major grants to support health research."

Research!America also works to foster a legislative and regulatory climate that stimulates innovation and growth in industry research and development.

"I have had the privilege to work with Research!America for many years and this organization represents an impressive coalition of universities, health centers, foundations and businesses all dedicated to maintaining support for health research," said Walter E. Horton, Jr., associate vice president for research and federal relations at Texas State. "It is an organization that is held in high regard and it is very appropriate that Texas State is now a member, given our growing health research funding."

About Texas State University

Founded in 1899, Texas State University is among the largest universities in Texas with an enrollment of 38,694 students on campuses in San Marcos and Round Rock. Texas State’s 181,000-plus alumni are a powerful force in serving the economic workforce needs of Texas and throughout the world. Designated an Emerging Research University by the State of Texas, Texas State is classified under “Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity,” the second-highest designation for research institutions under the Carnegie classification system.