Research America history

1992: Founder Edwin C. "Jack" Whitehead dies.

1994: A third statewide public awareness campaign is launched in New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut; poll data confirm strong support for research in tri-state area.

1996: The Honorable Paul G. Rogers, a former congressman widely known as "Mr.

1998: Under the leadership of Research!America Board member John Whitehead, the Campaign for Medical Research, an independent, not-for-profit, 501(c)(4) organization, is launched in partnership with Research!America.

2000: With a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (link is external), Research!America launches the Prevention Research Initiative to elevate prevention research to a higher national priority.

In the 21st century, the United States assumed a leadership position in a global “war on terror” that began in earnest following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, that destroyed the World Trade Center in New York City and significantly damaged the Pentagon.

2004: The first of a regular series of Research!America/PARADE Health Polls is launched.

2007: Research!America, the Lasker Foundation and additional partners launch the award-winning Your Congress-Your Health (link is external), asking all Members of Congress to indicate their positions on medical and health research.

2009: NIH receives a $10 billion increase, NSF receives a $3 billion increase and AHRQ receives a $1.1 billion increase as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, following aggressive advocacy by Research!America and its partners.

2013: Research!America conducts first Advocacy Academy for early-career scientists and hosts the Research Matters Communications workshop in partnership with George Washington University, Elsevier and the Society for Neuroscience.

2015: Research!America supports the 21st Century Cures Act, sweeping legislation to accelerate the discovery, development and delivery of life-saving treatments and therapies to patients.

2016: The 21st Century Cures Act is signed into law as a result of sustained, strategic advocacy campaigns by Research!America, member organizations and partners.