Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX) has secured House approval for $125,000 in funding for the Texas Institute of Genomic Medicine, a state-of-the-art medical research center that he and Governor Perry established last year. The funding was included in the 2008 Labor and Health and Human Services Appropriations bill that passed the House 276-140.

“I’m convinced the cutting-edge research occurring at the Texas Institute for Genomic Medicine will bring us closer to cures for our most critical diseases, as well as vaccines to protect against biological attacks,” said Brady.  “We should never miss a chance to invest in medical research. I’m going to keep working to find more money for this important research initiative.”  

The bill includes partial funding for research equipment for the Texas Institute of Genomic Medicine’s two locations in the Texas Medical Center-Houston and College Station. Brady had asked for more to help provide start-of-the-art research equipment for the center, which is expected to create 5,000 new Texas jobs.

In 2005, Congressman Brady helped create the Texas Institute of Genomic Medicine—a partnership of Texas A & M University, Texas Governor Rick Perry’s Enterprise Fund, and Lexicon Genetics.  The Texas Institute of Genomic Medicine now houses the world’s largest and deepest pool of genomic material. Today researchers at universities and companies use the Texas Institute of Genomic Medicine to accelerate medical breakthroughs and protect American families against bio-chemical attacks. As proof, in its brief existence it has already helped identify a key gene defect that may cause spina bifida, a common birth defect affecting the lower spinal column.

The 2008 Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services Appropriations bill must now be approved by the Senate and signed by the president to become law.