[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 19, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2261-E2262]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

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                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2008

  Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the important research it is 
doing. There are few investments the Federal government makes that 
regularly pay such important dividends to the American taxpayer. The 
National Institutes of Health, the lead government agency tasked with 
preventing and curing diseases and disorders, is one such investment. 
While NIH conducts some biomedical research at its Bethesda, Maryland 
campus, between 80 to 90 percent of its budget funds research that 
takes place at universities, research centers and hospitals throughout 
the United States. At a time when stimulating the economy is on 
everyone's mind, we should remember that the NIH dollars that flow into 
our communities provide direct economic benefits in the form of 
increased employment and growth opportunities for research institutions 
and local businesses at the same time that they are funding research to 
save lives and improve the quality of life of all Americans. One 
example of that is NIH-supported research to identify a gene variant 
involved in isolated cleft lip.
  About one in every 600 babies in the United States is born with 
isolated cleft lip and/or palate (roof of the mouth). While there are 
several surgeries to correct the condition, families suffer under the 
emotional and economic strain, and children often require additional 
treatment, including complex dental care and speech therapy. Because 
isolated clefts occur during fetal development from disruptions in the 
dynamic, but still poorly understood, interplay of genes, diet, and 
environment, ongoing research is seeking ways to prevent or reverse the 
problem before a baby is born.
  One course of action has been to isolate genes involved in the 
developmental process. Six years ago, a gene known as IRF-6 was 
discovered. Within the gene's structure is a sequence variant known as 
a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Scientists recently discovered 
that the frequency of this SNP was significantly higher in babies born 
with cleft lip only.

[[Page E2262]]

  Through this type of research, scientists can now account for about 
30 percent of isolated cleft lip. Researchers supported by NIH's 
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) are 
working to identify the causes of cleft lip, develop better ways of 
treating clefts, and provide information on whether they might occur 
again in a family. Hopefully, better prevention strategies can also be 
an outcome of this work. Through continued research, American families 
can look forward to prevention of cleft lip and palate.
  This is just one example of how the research funded with taxpayer 
dollars at the NIH is improving the health and well-being of all 
Americans.

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