Printable Version

Three Guilford Projects Get Funded

Thanks to action in the House and Senate late last night, three high-tech research projects in the 6th District will receive federal funding, U.S. Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC) announced today. Congressman Coble said money was included in the $417.5 billion fiscal year 2005 Department of Defense (DOD) budget passed by both chambers last night.

Rep. Coble said the funds would be used in such cutting-edge research areas as genomic medicine and the use of gallium nitrate in communications. Congressman Coble credited Senator Elizabeth Dole with championing a couple of the programs through the Senate version of the DOD budget process. The following projects will move forward Coble announced today:

1. The Guilford Genomic Medicine Project will receive $3.4 million in DOD funds, Rep. Coble announced. Last month, the House had approved $4 million, then the Senate voted for $2.5 million, and in the conference report adopted last night, $3.4 million was the final tally. Congressman Coble said the money would fund genetic testing for Guilford County veterans along with developing personalized health care plans to realize new outcomes in disease prevention and treatment. The research and studies will be conducted at Moses Cone Hospital, UNC-Greensboro, and Duke.

2. RF Micro Devices, headquartered in Greensboro, will be involved in a joint project with Pennsylvania State University and II-IV Corporation into the use of gallium nitrate as a means to improve high-tech communications. Congressman Coble said that Senator Dole had $5 million inserted in the Senate’s DOD budget for the Air Force’s component of the research project. The conference report adopted last night allocated $2.5 million.

3. Rep. Coble said that the same three organizations will jointly work on gallium nitrate research for the Navy. Senator Dole had received funding of $4 million in the Senate bill, and last night’s conference report contained $2 million to move the research forward.

“We have worked on these funding projects for months,” Rep. Coble said, “because they offer exciting new opportunities in the medical and communications fields. The 6th District will be directly impacted by these worthwhile research efforts. Not only will the research mean jobs, but it will allow our nation to assist both our military services along with our veterans who have served us so well. I appreciate Senator Dole’s assistance in leading the effort on the Senate side.”

President Bush is expected to sign the DOD budget conference report in the next few days.

Back to News