House committee approves imaging institute; bill moves to final vote

Sep 14, 2000

The House Commerce Committee has unanimously approved legislation to create a biomedical imaging institute at the National Institutes of Health. Yesterday's approval by voice vote makes the bill eligible for a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Proponents hope the bill, (H.R. 1795), will be passed along with its Senate counterpart (S. 1110) before the current Congressional session ends in October.

While voting to approve the institute, Rep. John Dingle (D-MI) raised questions about its cost, which has not yet been determined, according to Edward Nagy, executive director of the Academy of Radiology Research.

"The committee would like to have some definitive data on the cost of institute before it goes to the full house for a vote," Nagy said. To that end, the committee has asked the Congressional Budget Office to prepare a cost estimate before the bill is sent to the House floor.

Prominent U.S. radiologists testified Wednesday in the House Subcommittee on Health and Environment that basic research directed by a national imaging institute was the only way to realize radiology's potential in future medical advances. The Clinton administration continues to oppose the bill, however, calling it unnecessary and expensive. Despite the opposition, however, the subcommittee approved the bill Wednesday for consideration by the Commerce Committee.

In the past week more than 2,250 AuntMinnie.com users have signed an online petition in favor of the institute. The Academy of Radiology Research, a Washington, DC-based lobbying organization, is urging the imaging community to fax letters to U.S. legislators in support of the legislation. For more information, visit the academy's Web site at www.acadrad.org.

The name of the proposed institute was officially changed yesterday, to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. "Bio" was added to the last word of the title.

"The bioengineering organization thought it would more accurately reflect the disciplines that would be covered by the institute," Nagy said.

By Eric Barnes
AuntMinnie.com staff writer
September 15, 2000

House subcommittee to tackle proposed NIH imaging institute, September 11, 2000

More NIH funds could aid imaging effort, January 25, 2000

Radiology accelerates drive for imaging institute in 2000, January 11, 2000

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