Among the more than $20 million in the bill the ranking Republican senator secured for Kentucky universities, are:
- $2 million for the University of Louisville Diagnosing and Mitigating Human Exposure to Radiation project to provide UofL with the ability to conduct cutting-edge diagnostic research with the Johnson Space Center to detect and alleviate human radiation exposure. UofL will work to develop a diagnostic system to identify when a person has been exposed to enough radiation to cause cellular damage. This system can be applied to detect and mitigate the damage of compromised health of astronauts in space and operators at nuclear facilities, and to allow first responders to identify exposure in the event of a radiological attack.
- $2.5 million for UofL to purchase medical equipment for the In-Vivo Molecular Imaging Project. This will allow researchers to gather information through non-invasive means in humans, which will help solve biological and medical problems and improve knowledge of diseases.
- $1 million to help the UofL Center for Liver Cancer to develop a liver cancer research center, investigating new surgical approaches, drug therapies and diagnostic and prevention strategies for liver cancer.
- $1 million for the UofL Cardiovascular and Regenerative Medicine Project to purchase equipment that will help researchers conduct cutting-edge, first-in-human research studies in the use of cell-based therapies for heart disease
- $800,000 for the UofL Improving Nursing Care Program to train and educate nursing faculty, students and registered nurses to better understand and use clinical informatics and to incorporate electronic health records in the delivery of care.
I was pleased to secure funding for critical medical research and development at the University of Louisville, McConnell said. The university, its students and faculty will use these funds to continue their cutting-edge research to help combat heart disease and cancer, and to train our future medical professionals.
The Omnibus Appropriations Bill combines six of the 12 annual appropriations bills needed to fund the federal government for the 2010 fiscal year, which began Sept. 30. Specifically, this bill combines funds for the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Commerce, Justice, Transportation, Labor, State, and Housing and Urban Development.
Having passed both chambers of Congress, it will be sent to President Barack Obama for his signature.