WASHINGTON—There are two ways for biomedical research to receive more federal funds: from new money generated by raising taxes, or through a larger share of the existing budget.
While the biomedical commnunity as a whole is just beginning to tackle the problem, one group—the American Federation for Clinical Researchers—has already decided that biomedical research should receive a larger slice of the current pie at the expense of military research. On March 3 the New Jersey-based organization made its point with 535 apple pies, one for each member of the House and Senate.
“Our message is, it matters how you slice it,” said federation president David Hathaway of Indiana University at a press conference in the Capitol. “By giving the military two-thirds of the federal R&D budget, the government is failing to respond to the public’s interest in increased support for biomedical research and limiting growth in an era of very...