MDNews - Cleveland-Akron-Canton

++ + ++ + +++++++++++++++ SURVEY +++++++++++++++ + + Research Important to Ohio Medical and Health By Jay A. Gershen, DDS, PhD, President, NEOUCOM, Member, Board of Directors, Research!America O HIOANS BROADLY SUPPORT a strong commitment to medical and health research and recognize its direct link to job creation and the state’s and the nation’s economy, according to a new statewide poll conducted by IBOPE Zogby for Research!America and Northeast Ohio Medical University, formerly Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. A strong majority of Ohioans (86 percent) thinks medical and health research is important — 42 percent say very important — to the state’s economy. Eight in 10 believe spending money on scientifi c research is important to Ohio’s economy in terms of jobs and incomes. Nine in 10 (92 percent) Ohioans think it is important — 62 percent say very important — for the state to be a leader in medical and health research, but only half say the state is a leader in this area. Nearly as many (88 percent) say it is important for the state to be a leader in science and technology, but just 28 percent think it is. “The strong public support by Ohioans for research is a refl ection of the growth and strength of medical and health R&D conducted by the universities and academic health centers in our state,” said Jay A. Gershen, DDS, PhD, president of the University. “Ohio’s universities are building the state’s leadership in medical and health research, educating health professionals to work in underserved areas and creating innovative col- laborations with the state’s growing life science industry and broader business community.” Fully 85 percent say it is important — 47 percent say very important — for Ohio to support the education of health profes- sionals for rural and urban underserved communities. Six in 10 believe it is very important for Ohio to encourage young people to pursue careers that require a solid education in science, and nearly as many (57 percent) say it is very important that Ohio create more opportunities for careers in science and research. Nearly half (49 percent) of Ohioans say that the fi ve-and-a-half cents of each health dollar the nation spent in 2009 on medical and health research was not enough, and 60 percent say it is a top or high priority to accelerate our nation’s investment in research to improve health. One-third say it is primarily the federal government’s responsibility to accelerate that investment; 28 percent say private industry; and 20 percent, research institutions or universities. Further findings from the Ohio poll include: + 81 percent say they would approve of their state offering fi nancial incentives to companies to attract new scientifi c research labs or companies; + 97 percent think education and training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is important — 78 percent say very important — to U.S. competitiveness and future economic prosperity; + 90 percent of Ohioans say it is important that elected offi cials at all levels listen to advice from scientists and public health professionals when setting policy or spending priorities; and + 62 percent agree that basic research which advances the frontiers of knowledge is necessary and should be supported by the federal government, even if it brings no immediate benefi ts. IBOPE Zogby International conducted an online survey for Research!America of 600 adults in Ohio, April 27-May 2, 2011. The sample is proportionate to the nation’s demographics, including age, race/ethnicity, gender and education, with a margin of error of ±4.1 percent. Highlights of the poll fi ndings are available at www.researchamerica.org/uploads/ ohiopoll2011.pdf. n

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