Breaking Through

TL;DR: The impact of fundamental biomedical research on society and the economy is significant, but its importance is not readily apparent to the average citizen.

Abstract: Two years ago, FASEB began to document how fundamental biomedical research makes discoveries that have important practical applications and favorable economic consequences while attaining valuable insights into biological processes. We hoped that this undertaking would help our patrons-the general public and the legislators whom they elect-understand how their investment in fundamental biomedical research leads to scientific progress. Although practicing scientists appreciate the value of fundamental investigator-initiated research, the importance of this approach is not immediately evident to the average citizen. But scientists do not have the benefit of seeing the global picture. We all know that only a small portion of our collective research efforts will lead to new ways to diagnose or treat diseases or to a new product that will be successful in the marketplace. Most of us, however, do not know the frequency of such discoveries or their real economic or social impact. It is becoming clear that such information is important when the availability of resources to support biomedical research is being increasingly limited by the constraints ofthe federal budget.