Advocates push to save medical research funds from cuts

{mosads}In a separate report, UMR estimated that a roughly 8 percent cut to the NIH budget would result in 33,000 fewer jobs and a $4.5 billion decrease in economic activity.

A spokeswoman also predicted “delays in medical advancements around new treatments for chronic diseases, and an overall compromise to medical innovation in the U.S.” as a result of the cuts.

Medical research groups have been on the offensive for several weeks as Washington begins negotiations on the fiscal cliff, a combination of the sequester and expiring tax rates that has forced a wider debate on ways to reduce the deficit.

Research!America and several dozen patient, industry and other health groups launched a week of advocacy on Capitol Hill earlier this month.