Medicine

Holden announces $7 million appropriation for cancer research partnership

Hershey, Pa. - U.S. Rep. Tim Holden (D-17) held a press conference at Penn State Hershey Medical Center on thursday, Aug. 5 to announce a $7 million appropriation he successfully included in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2005 for Penn State Hershey Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center partnership to conduct cancer research. Holden secured $6 million in the fiscal year 2004 Department of Defense bill.

Press conference speakers in addition to Holden included: Darrell Kirch, senior vice president for health affairs, dean and CEO of Penn State Hershey Medical Center and the Penn State College of Medicine; Thomas Loughran, director of the Penn State Cancer Institute; and Robert Muscalus, physician general of Pennsylvania.

The National Naval Medical Center is the flagship of military health protection, graduate medical education, world-class health care and research. The National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., develops and exports innovations in health care, informatics and research.

"I am very pleased to have been able to again secure funding in the defense bill for this unique partnership between the Penn State Hershey Medical Center and the Navy," said Holden. "Research at NMNC benefits all Americans, not solely Department of Defense personnel, and partnering with Penn State Hershey will allow the Navy to expand and enhance its current cancer research in cancer therapy and treatment."

Kirch expressed gratitude to the congressman for his continued support of cancer research efforts.

"We already are seeing positive results from the collaborations established following the initial appropriation Congressman Holden secured for us last year. This new appropriation puts us in an economic position to build on that base. It will expand Penn State Hershey's economic contributions to the community, the region and the state. Most importantly, the real beneficiaries will be our patients, their families and our community," Kirch said.

The Penn State Hershey/Navy partnership will provide a combined battery of talented clinicians and researchers, active collaborations between these individuals and access to the appropriate equipment tools and technology to achieve their goals. This will lead to new advances in discovery, early detection, evaluation, treatment and prevention of cancer that will benefit both the military and civilian population.

Last Updated March 19, 2009

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