Obama Announces $5 billion Grant for Scientific Research

In a speech yesterday President Obama announced at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, an award of $5 billion in grant money to be used for finding cures for cancer, heart dieseases, and autism, among others, through specific scientific research projects. 

This money has come from a $787 billion economic stimulus package which allotted $10 billion for the NIH as part of an overall $100 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allocation to science and technology. The $5 billion was formally distributed yesterday in support of 12, 000 existing projects that will continue to occur over the course of the next two years. 

 "This represents the single largest boost to biomedical research in history," Obama said. "We're applying what scientists have learned through the Human Genome Project to understand disease. In cancer, we're beginning to see treatments based on genetic changes that cause the disease."

This announcement not only provides hope on finding a cure for these devastating diseases but also creates a cause for optimism for those seeking jobs and internships in the field of medical research.  Speculation is that this research initiative will create tens of thousands of jobs over the course of the next two years. These grants are being awarded to every research institution across the entire United States.

Internships are also being created as a direct result of this funding. An example of several of these internships include:

 The University of Virginia School of Nursing will use some of its funding to support five undergraduate and graduate student interns working in the Rural Health Care Research Center in 2009 plus an additional eight positions starting in 2010.

The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) has received a grant in the amount of $498,203 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to continue to expand its leadership and mentoring programs for youth at the Greensboro YMCA. The monies will also be used to provide internships for young people with businesses and organizations within the local community.

Students and career transitioners interested in seeking a career in the field of medical research should actively seek out similar opportunities at medical research centers near them.  The chance of getting an internship or a job in the field of medical research has been exponentially increased due to the grant money that is currently being offered to eradicate some of the more deadly and serious diseases that currently plague our society.