Breakthrough Advocacy for Research

1. Breakthrough Advocacy for Research Mary WoolleyPresident, Research!AmericaRobert Wood Johnson Foundation FellowsWashington, DCOctober 2, 2008

2. “Every public health decision is made on a political decision.” – William Foege, MD, MPH September 10, 2003 Senior Fellow, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Former Director, CDC

3. Research!America: 19 Years of Putting Research on the Public Agenda • Non-profit alliance with 500 member organizations drawn from academia, business, patient organizations and scientific societies representing more than 125 million Americans • Distinguished, all-volunteer board includes former elected and appointed officials, media and public relations leaders, and leaders from alliance member organizations

4. Research!America’s Mission • Make medical and health research, including research to prevent disease, disability and injury, a much higher national priority

5. Research!America Goals: • Ensure that the public hears about research and its benefits • Achieve more funding for medical and health research • Advocate a policy climate that stimulates rather than impedes research • Empower others to advocate for medical and health research

6. Advocacy vs. Lobbying • To advocate simply means to speak up, to plead the case of another or to champion a causeIt is something that most of us routinely do on behalf of our families, our neighbors, our friends and ourselves • Lobbying, in general, consists of communications intended to influence specific legislation.

7. 2009 Research Budget Update

8. Campaign for Public Health Evan Jones, chairman, Campaign for Public Health, chairman of the board, Digene Corporation CPH is comprised of prominent leaders in the public health community dedicated to advocacy that will accelerate the growth of federal appropriations for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Karl B. Moeller, Executive Director karlm@fundcdc.org www.fundcdc.org

10. What’s Happening to Accomplish This Goal • House and Senate Staff Trips to Centers for Disease Control & Prevention in Atlanta • Creation of Congressional Study Group on Public Health • Advertising • Business Leader Engagement

11. Research!America: Defining and Delivering Messages That Work • Aspirational messages (Then…Now…Imagine) • Economic impact messages • Cost savings messages

12. Research Takes Cents • Americans spent more than $35 billion on lawn and garden products in 2007 • That could fund the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention at current levels for more than five years! Sources: National Gardening Association; CDC FY08

13. Prematurity THEN… deaths of newborns from respiratory distress syndrome totaled more than 10,000 a year in the 1950s NOW… with the discovery and development of artificial lung surfactant deaths of premature newborns from RDS have decreased to fewer than 1,000 in 2002 IMAGINE… preventing premature births completely Source: March of Dimes

14. Economic Impact Messages • Research drives innovation and productivity • Research creates jobs • Research fuels local & regional economies • Research helps control health care costs

15. Research!America Polls: • Commissioning public opinion polls on research issues for more than 16 years: • National Polls • State-Based Polls • Issue-Specific Polls • Telephone (random-digit dialing) polls are conducted with a sample size of 800-1000 adults (age 18+) and a maximum theoretical sampling error of +/- 3.5 percent. Data are demographically representative of adult U.S. residents (state or national).

16. “…public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed.” –Abraham Lincoln

17. “As a member of the U.S. Senate, it is incumbent upon me to hear the public voice about important issues. Research!America, through its national surveys, gives me added evidence of the importance of medical and health research to our citizenry—information necessary to make informed decisions where the public’s welfare is concerned.” –Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), Ranking Member, LHHS Subcommittee

18. Americans Don’t Know Where Research is Conducted Do you know of any institutions, companies or organizations where medical or health research is conducted? Source: Your Congress–Your Health Survey, 2007Charlton Research Company for Research!America

19. Most Americans Can’t Name a Living Scientist Can you give me the name of a living scientist? Source: Bridging the Sciences Survey, 2006Charlton Research Company for Research!America

20. Public Trust in Sources ofResearch Information As you are probably aware, there are many sources of information about medical and health research issues. For each of these sources, I’d like you to tell me how trustworthy you think the information they provide is? (% responses trustworthy) Nurses 96% Pharmacists 95% Your Physician 95% Medical Schools and Teaching Hospitals 93% Your Dentist 92% Voluntary Health Agencies 89% Government Agencies (such as NIH and CDC) 83% The Internet 56% Media Sources 55% Pharmaceutical Companies 53% Source: National Survey, 2005Charlton Research Company for Research!America

21. Americans Want More Spent on Public Health Research Currently, the U.S. spends about one cent of every health care dollar on prevention and public health research. How many cents of each health dollar do you think we SHOULD spend? Source: National Survey, 2006Charlton Research Company for Research!America

22. Investing in Health Can Change the World If the U.S. decided to invest in one thing to really make a difference in the world, what do you think that one thing should be? (first mentions) Attitudes: Global Health ResearchCharlton Research for Research!America, 2006

23. Americans Willing to Pay for Global Health Research Would you still agree that the United States government spends too little on research designed to improve health around the world if you were told it would mean slightly higher taxes or less money available for other spending priorities? (Only includes those who responded “too little” n=621) Attitudes: Global Health ResearchCharlton Research for Research!America, 2006

24. Important to Eliminate Health Disparities Studies show that certain health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and infant mortality happen more often among minorities or citizens with lower incomes. How important do you feel it is to conduct medical or health research to understand and eliminate these differences? Source: National Poll, 2006Charlton Research Company for Research!America

25. Public Concerns About Research What concerns, if any, do you have about medical and health research? First mentions No concerns/don’t know 36% Wasting money 9 Government involvement 6 Profit driven 5 Not enough funding 5 Finding a cure for diseases 4 Research is needed 4 Finding a cure to cancer 3 Stem cells 3 It takes too long 3 Other 22 Source: National Survey, 2006Charlton Research Company for Research!America

26. Very Important for U.S. to Educate and Train Researchers How important is it for the U.S. to educate and train individuals qualified to conduct medical, health and scientific research? Source: Your Candidates-Your Health Survey, 2006Charlton Research Company for Research!America

27. Americans Oppose Cuts to CDC Budget The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is charged with protecting the health and safety of Americans. The President has proposed to cut the CDC’s core programs by about 4% for the second year in a row. Do you support or oppose the President’s 2007 budget proposal that cuts funding for the CDC by 4%? Source: Your Candidates-Your Health Survey, 2006Charlton Research Company for Research!America

28. Americans Want More Media Coverage of Science and Research Would you like to see more, less or about the same amount of information about science and research in the media? Source: Bridging the Sciences Survey, 2006Charlton Research Company for Research!America

29. Media Attention • Policymakers respond to media • Constituents learn from the media • Media attention can create public pressure

30. PARADE/Research!America Poll “What Americans Think About Medical Research” March 21, 2004

31. Election Day is November 4! “Elections have a way of sorting things out.” The Honorable John Edward PorterResearch!America Chair

32. The New York Times: The Words They Used

33. “If you listened to the speeches in Denver and St. Paul, you might have noticed a conspicuous absence—there was very little talk about science at the conventions. Maybe a passing mention of health care or global warming here and there in the speeches, but little or no talk of embryonic stem cell research or the funding for our research institutions like the National Institutes of Health.” —Ira Flatow, host of “Science Friday,” on the Sept. 5 broadcast “Health and the Election.” Guest: Mary Woolley

34. “Increasing the focus on prevention and wellness is a critical part of my health care plan. Under my plan, we will realize tremendous savings within the health care system from, among other things, improvements in prevention and management of chronic conditions.” “I believe that the CDC plays a critical role in our nation’s health care and national security infrastructure, and I will ensure the CDC has the resources it needs to fulfill its public health mission.” – Sen. Barack Obama, in his response to the 2008 Your Candidates-Your Health voter education initiative.

35. “Focusing on prevention and wellness is an important aspect of my health care plan.” “I strongly support funding for CDC. CDC plays an important role in not only promoting better health for Americans through better management of chronic care diseases and encouraging healthier lifestyle habits but also strengthens our homeland security by combating bioterrorism threats, pandemics and promoting emergency preparedness.” – Sen. John McCain, in his response to the 2008 Your Candidates-Your Health voter education initiative.

36. Invitations are also being extended to all 2008 Congressional candidates after each state’s Congressional primary. More than 240 Congressional candidates have already responded.

37. Our Partners in Your Candidates-Your Health

38. www.researchamerica.orgwww.yourcandidatesyourhealth.orgFind Us On Facebook!