RST: Sequester slows medical research? Dolphin deaths a mystery

What to look for on Radio Smart Talk Monday, August 5, 2013:

The automatic federal spending cuts called sequestration that went into effect earlier this year are hindering medical research in Pennsylvania and across the country. So says the advocacy group Research America.

The group says the sequester has resulted in cuts of $1.7 billion from the National Institutes of Health, $300 million from the Centers for Disease Control, and $209 million from the Food and Drug Administration.

Research America points out that the Penn State Hershey Medical Center received $111 million in NIH grants in fiscal year 2012 to identify a protein that could lead to a vaccine or new therapies for the malaria parasite. That’s just one Pennsylvania example.

More cuts have been proposed in Washington and the group says it could have an impact on research and maybe cost lives.

Research America President and CEO Mary Wooley will appear on Monday’s program to explain.

Also, scientists in New Jersey don’t know what’s killing dolphins and washing their bodies ashore. As of Monday, 27 dead dolphins had been recovered since July 9.

Bob Schoelkopf, the director of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine will join us with the latest.

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