Press Release

Gillibrand Announces Key Senate Panel Approves $2.5 Million For Critical Medical Research In Western New York

Sep 10, 2009

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $2.5 million in the FY10 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill for Hauptman Woodward Medical Research Institute to research new treatments for post-wound infections for troops serving in combat. Senator Gillibrand aggressively lobbied members of the Appropriations Committee to include funding for these projects in this year’s spending bill.

“It is critical that we continue to invest in cutting-edge, life-saving research,” Senator Gillibrand said. “These federal dollars will help develop new and better treatments for our servicemembers who put their lives on the line each and every day for our freedoms. They deserve nothing less than the best medical treatments for their service and sacrifice.”

Hauptman Woodward Medical Research Institute will use the $2.5 million federal investment to identify new antibacterial drug targets and develop new drug compounds to develop effective treatments for difficult and dangerous infections as a result of wounds sustained while serving in combat.

Today, the Appropriations Bill for the Department of Defense passed the full committee. The legislation will head to the floor for a full vote before the Senate. The bill will then proceed to the House-Senate Conference Committee, before final passage in both chambers, and sent to the President to become law.