Each year the federal government, through the National Institutes of Health, awards about $10 billion of research grants to the biomedical research efforts in colleges, universities and not-for-profit research foundations. Based on Oklahoma’s population, we should be receiving approximately $100 million in NIH grants each year. Currently, we receive only $31 million in funding from the NIH, the bulk of which goes to the University of Oklahoma health Sciences Center and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, or only about 24 percent of our “fair share.” Our neighboring states, for example, Texas (67%) and Colorado (120%) do substantially better.
Below is a very illuminating chart comparing Oklahoma’s total NIH funding in 1997 (and per capita expenditure per person) with other states – some of which are our neighboring states, others not.
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Unfortunately, Oklahoma is not experiencing any growth in this area; in fact, we are going in the wrong direction. In 1993, we ranked 40th in the nation in NIH per capita funding. In 1997, we dropped a notch to 41. Growth occurred in other neighboring states – Missouri from 14th to 12th; New Mexico from 27th to 26th – while others stayed at the same ranking (except Texas, which dropped from 24th to 25th).
Other states with less per capita funding than Oklahoma have substantially lower populations (Alaska, Arkansas, Mississippi, Nevada, South and North Dakota, Wyoming). Yet, population in itself is not really a factor. For example, my home state of Vermont, with only 588,000 people, ranks 13th in per capita funding, at $44.64 per person, or nearly five times as much as Oklahoma, with a population of three million!
Biomedical research – of which the intellectual property (discoveries) of scientists is translated into biotechnology – is spawning the greatest industry growth in the nation. In 1995, the net value of the biotechnology industry was $52 billion; in 1996, it had more than doubled, to $103 billion. It is predicted that by 2015, U.S. biotechnology will be a $600 billion industry. An incredible 70 percent of industrial research and development funding in this industry goes toward health.
Biomedical research is one area in which Oklahoma has a chance to achieve national and international prominence – but only if we can sustain the momentum generated over the past decade. While I have been in Oklahoma a little more than a year, I believe it is appropriate to state clearly and unequivocally that Oklahoma should set the goal of achieving $100 million in NIH grants within five years (our “fair share”).
Why are these research dollars so important to our state? First and foremost, the public is interested in medical research. In fact, according to a recent opinion poll taken by Research! America, they are overwhelmingly in favor of both state and federal funds being used to support biomedical research, and recognize that Oklahoma needs to be a leader in this area.
Next, biomedical research is an enormous engine that can fuel Oklahoma’s economy, which relied for most of its history on the oil business. Research dollars that come into Oklahoma provide high-quality, better-than-average pay for our citizens, and will lay the foundation for jobs in the future for our sons and daughters.
Of course, research dollars boost the economy in other ways as well. People with jobs buy houses, furniture, clothing, groceries and services. They go to the movies, ballgames and museums. The taxes they pay provide for better schools and more highly trained teachers, roads, libraries, and cultural opportunities. It would clearly be a boon to business – all Oklahoma business.
But equally as important, Oklahoma – with a vigorous economy, a highly educated and/or skilled population, and a more prominent national profile, will be a place in which Oklahomans can take particular pride, because we have accomplished it ourselves – we are the masters of our future.
We will need to put in place all the efforts necessary to bring Oklahoma its fair share of research dollars. Many may say that this is not possible. Yet other states have set these goals and have met them, after having been far behind the average for a decade (Massachusetts) or less (Colorado, Utah). These states now receive close to or more than their share of the Federal research budget. It is possible to set a goal and target where Oklahoma needs to go.
How can this be accomplished? First, it will require a consensus from our political leaders – our governor, our congressional delegation, and the state legislature. The chambers of commerce, major foundations, and business and community leaders need to get behind this effort. And the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and foundations such as OMRF will need to close ranks and set priorities to achieve this goal.
The federal government is doing its share. In recent years, a clear bipartisan political consensus on the national level has been reached to double the NIH budget over the next five to seven years. The final budget resolution bill is near signature, with various versions of the funding resolution at a 10-14% increase. Oklahoma needs to be poised to take advantage of this increased Federal funding for biomedical research. Thus, with a $2 billion increase planned, we should expect (based on our population) to receive 1.24% of that, or more than $20 million! That would bring us to $50 million in research dollars immediately. But we are not in a position as a state to attract these funds.
Why? Here is what I believe is the groundwork to be laid to put Oklahoma in a position to receive these additional research funds:
First, we need a massive infusion of state funds into science education and the infrastructure of biomedical research. We can no longer remain a state with such a low investment in the future of our children’s education. While the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation will benefit indirectly from these investments, the major recipients of the funds would likely be the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, the OU’s and Oklahoma State University’s departments of biology, and the high school science programs throughout the state.
Second, funding for the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) needs a ten-fold increase to stimulate biomedical research in the state.
Third, seed venture capital to stimulate our local biotechnology community needs to be readily available. Oklahomans interested in investments need to consider biotechnology investments here in Oklahoma. The formation of the Oklahoma Technology Center with Randy Goldsmith as president and chief executive officer, and the recruitment of Skip Porter as vice president of technology development at the University of Oklahoma and secretary of science and technology for the state of Oklahoma, is a beginning.
Fourth, the state needs to invest in new construction to create or enhance an infrastructure that will retain and attract the best scientists in the nation to Oklahoma.
Finally, because Oklahomans want to go to hospitals where there is ongoing biomedical research (80 percent, according to the survey), we will need an investment from Oklahoma’s hospital community.
The result if we do not move forward in this direction? The economy will not flourish. Oklahoma will continue to have a brain drain, although higher education in the state is now receiving the support and commitment it needs from the state and its people, as evidenced by the recent accomplishments of our major universities. We may educate our children to compete in the national arena, but they will still leave for more lucrative jobs in other markets.
I believe it is crucial that state leaders step forward and say that biomedical research is an important element in our future. It represents not only an important investment in education and employment, but an area in which the state of Oklahoma can truly excel.
Dr. J. Donald Capra is the president and scientific director of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
