The NIH, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has granted Baylor College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics faculty members working at Texas Children's more than $31 million for fiscal year 2003. More than 79 pediatric awards were received. Although the awards are in Baylor's name, the two affiliated organizations collaborate in seeking cures to childhood diseases.
"It is the hope of both institutions that the NIH funds granted will improve the lives of children across the globe," said Dr. Ralph D. Feigin, chairman of the Baylor College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics and Texas Children's physician-in-chief. "To earn the No. 1 spot in NIH funding in pediatrics two years in a row speaks volumes about the collaborative effort between Texas Children's and Baylor. Once again we are delighted the pediatrics faculty at Baylor College of Medicine has been so successful in competing for these peer-reviewed NIH awards."
The NIH is one of the world's foremost medical research centers and is the federal focal point for medical research in the United States. NIH funding has advanced research in the study of heart disease, stroke, cancer, spinal cord injury, respiratory distress syndrome, infectious diseases and gene therapy. NIH support has included more than 100 scientists who have won the Nobel Prize for achievements as varied as deciphering the genetic code and unlocking the causes of hepatitis.
"The mission of the NIH – to obtain new knowledge on the prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases – mirrors the goals of Texas Children's and Baylor," said Mark A. Wallace, president and CEO of Texas Children's Hospital. "The NIH resources will be used to continue our quest of conquering pediatric diseases."
The NIH awards are given annually in keeping with the agency's mission to support the research of non-federal scientists in universities, medical schools, hospitals and research institutions throughout the country and abroad to help in the training of research investigators.
For more information on Baylor College of Medicine, visit www.bcm.tmc.edu, for more information on Texas Children's, visit http://www.texaschildrenshospital.org and for more information on the NIH, visit http://www.nih.gov.
The nonprofit Texas Children's Hospital, celebrating 50 years, is the largest children's hospital in the United States. http://www.texaschildrenshospital.org