When Brain Power Meets Political Power

The word "earmark" conjures up images of an Alaskan bridge to nowhere and a billion-dollar Boston tunnel mired in muck. But properly done, earmarks create powerful returns on investment.

Consider the research grants secured with the help of U.S. Rep. Bill Young for the University of South Florida, which this week gave the congressman an update on projects that will not only advance science, they could change lives around the world.

•In aging studies, researchers are using a $6-million, five-year grant to improve mental-health care for the elderly, particularly minorities who face a disparity in care.

•USF's new Center for International Languages and Culture is teaching Arabic and Middle Eastern culture to military personnel who face deployment there.

•With $3 million in seed money, the Center for Biological Defense has put USF researchers at the forefront of addressing bioterrorism.

•At the medical school, researchers are leading a global project on the prevention and treatment of juvenile diabetes. The effort, led by USF's Jeffrey Krischer, has drawn nearly $300 million in National Institutes of Health funding.

Also on the lengthy list of cutting-edge research projects: a tool that will help battlefield doctors better assess wounds, a nationwide effort to connect cancer patients with drug trials close to home, and better mental-health treatment for returning American warriors.

The importance of scientific research extends beyond the advancement of knowledge and the creation of solutions for an ever-changing world.

According to Nobel Laureate Robert Snow, more than half of the United State's economic growth since the 1940s can be traced to university-based research. However, research funds from the National Institutes of Health have been flat for the past four years, lessening the buying power of researchers and the reach of what can be accomplished.

In tough economic times, some might consider federal grants a luxury, or an unfashionable earmark.

But a federal investment in cutting-edge science not only makes life better for people, it keeps the wheels on during a sluggish economy.