America Speaks!

AmericaSpeaks!

PollDataSummaryVol. 12

The voicesof Americansvary by region,but theyharmonize inour vibrantdemocracy.

Research!America takes pride in presenting America Speaks, Volume 12, a fascinating overview ofAmericans’ views on health research and how it impacts our quality of life, the economy and ourglobal competitiveness. On behalf of the 125 million voices of our alliance, we gratefully acknowledgethe United Health Foundation’s generous support of America Speaks now in its 12th year.

Research is the genius of our economy, fueling innovation and discovery. But much is at stake in thiselection year. Research funding is at risk, and without a strong investment, we will falter in our effortsto find treatments and cures for chronic illnesses, improve health globally and create good jobs forAmericans. Since 1992, public opinion polls commissioned by Research!America consistently showthat Americans understand how research is inextricably linked to their health and well-being. Ourlatest polls highlight this point:

• Most Americans say a bigger slice of the health dollar should go towards research.

• 50% say investing in health research is important to job creation and economic recovery.

• 54% say research to improve health is part of the solution to rising health care costs.

• 92% say it’s important that our nation support more research on how well the healthcare system functions.

• A majority say the U.S. is losing its global competitive edge in science, technologyand innovation.

Our findings offer an intriguing look at how research impacts so many aspects of our life and whyit must be more of a focal point in the national conversation, particularly in an election year.Research!America will continue to track Americans’ viewpoints on research and health, and we willshare our findings with our members, the public and policymakers. Research is the future of ournation and Americans know it! Do our elected officials and candidates for office agree? We mustconvince them to make a greater investment in research now to bolster our economic competitiveness,contain health care costs and improve the health of our nation — for this generation and the next.

{Washington, D.C., January 2012}

Hon. John Edward PorterCHAIR, RESEARCH!AMERICA

Mary WoolleyPRESIDENT, RESEARCH!AMERICA

A Message fromResearch!America’sLeadership

Research and Innovation .......2

Investing in Research .......4

Research in the Public and Private Sector .......7

Getting the Job Done for Patients .......9

Why Science Matters .....12

A Snapshot of State Polling Data .....15

Survey Methodology .....17

Your Candidates – Your Health .....17

Contents

Not previously askedby Research!America.

new question

Indicates significant changefrom previous years.

trend change

Look for theseindicatorsthroughout thispublication:

America Speaks 2

“NIH is ... a key pillar of our economicrecovery, generating high-paying jobsin the cutting-edge biomedical researchindustry and keeping Americacompetitive in biomedical science.More than 80 percent of NIH’s budgetsupports over 350,000 scientist andresearch personnel, as well as theacquisition of goods and services fromevery state.”Reps. Ed Markey (D-MA) andBrian Bilbray (R-CA)

Researchand Innovation

29 % Strongly agree

48 % Somewhat agree

13 % Somewhat disagree

4% Strongly disagree

6% Not sure

41 % Very important

50 % Somewhat important

8% Not too important

1% Not at all important

Americans: U.S.Losing Its CompetitiveEdge in InnovationDo you agree or disagreewith the following statement?“The U.S. is losing its globalcompetitive edge in science,technology and innovation.”

Source: National Public Opinion Poll, October2011. JZ Analytics for Research!America

Americans ThinkR&D is Importantto State EconomiesHow important do youthink research anddevelopment is to yourstate’s economy?

Source: National Poll, March 2011. CharltonResearch Company for Research!America

3 Research and Innovation

Veryimportant

Somewhatimportant

Somewhatunimportant

Veryunimportant

Notsure

Investing in education

Reducing the federal deficit

Supporting small businesses

Investing in health research

Investing in energy

Providing tax cuts

Investing in infrastructure

65% 26% 4% 3% 1%

64% 24% 6% 3% 3%

54% 35% 8% 1%1%

50% 36% 8% 3% 3%

49% 38% 9% 2% 3%

46% 32% 12% 6% 4%

42% 42% 6% 2% 7%

Investing in Health ResearchImportant to Job Creation, RecoveryHow important is each of the following areas of concern tojob creation and economic recovery?

Source: National Public Opinion Poll, October 2011. JZ Analytics for Research!America

“We have seen many examples … of federal research initiatives and government support enablingthe emergence of new technologies in areas that include agriculture, chemicals, health care andinformation technology … However it is channeled, government support for innovation and R&Dwill be more effective if it is thought of as a long-run investment.”Ben Bernanke CHAIRMAN, THE FEDERAL RESERVE

“Only the federal government canafford the large-scale basic science thathas often led to breakthroughinnovations, like the semiconductor, theInternet and many new drugs. Yetfederal spending on basic research, as ashare of the economy, has fallen 5percent in the last five years. Talk abouta self-defeating cut.”David LeonhardtWASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, THE NEW YORK TIMES

Investingin Research

America Speaks 4

Bigger Slice of HealthDollar Should GoToward ResearchIn 2010, the U.S. spent fiveand a half cents of eachhealth dollar on research toprevent, cure and treatdisease and disability. Doyou think that this is toomuch, the right amount ornot enough?

AcceleratingInvestment inHealth Researchis a High PriorityHow much of a priority is itto accelerate our nation’sinvestment in research toimprove health?

Source: National Public Opinion Poll, October2011, JZ Analytics for Research!America


6% Too much

27 % The right amount

51 % Not enough

16 % Not sure

16 % Top priority

45 % High priority

33 % Somewhat of a priority

5% Low priority

1% Not a priority at all

5 Investing in Research

Majority SayHealth CareResearch isImportantHow important is it thatour nation support researchthat focuses on how wellthe health care system isfunctioning?


60 % Very important




2% Don’t know

Many Americans Say Investment inRegulatory Science is ImportantRegulatory science is a field that develops new tools, standardsand approaches to assess the safety, effectiveness, quality andperformance of all FDA-regulated products. How importantwould you say it is that the U.S. invest in advancing regulatoryscience to make the drug and device development processmore efficient for businesses and safer for patients?

Source: National Poll, March 2011. Charlton Research Company for Research!America

“Without question we face formidable competition overseas, especially from Europe and China, wheresignificant investments are being made in regulatory science. But the FDA remains the regulatory goldstandard throughout the world.”Margaret Hamburg, MD COMMISSIONER, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

38 % Very important




6% Don’t know

new question

Opinions Mixed onAmount of Time forFDA ApprovalWould you say that theaverage amount of time ittakes for the FDA to approvea drug, biological productor medical device and allowit to be sold to consumers istoo long, about right, or notlong enough, or do you notknow enough about this tohave an opinion?

31 % Too much

20 % About right

13 % Not enough

29 % Don’t know enoughto have an opinion

7% Not sure


America Speaks 6

Important to Increase Funding forFederal Health Research AgenciesThe following federal agencies play a role in improvingthe health of Americans through research and innovation.How important is it to increase funding for …


Veryimportant

Somewhatimportant

Somewhatunimportant

Veryunimportant

Notsure

Centersfor DiseaseControl andPrevention

Food andDrug

Administration

NationalInstitutesof Health

NationalScience

Foundation

Agency forHealthcare

Researchand Quality

45%

36%

53%

33%4%4%6%

34%

8%

6%

6%

39%

10%

5%

10%

30%

44%

10%

6%

11%

30%

42%

9%

6%

13%

Half of AmericansWilling to Pay Taxfor ResearchWould you be willing to pay$1 per week more in taxes ifyou were certain that all ofthe money would be spentfor additional medicalresearch?


50 % Yes

27 % No

23 % Not sure

“I believe that every dollar we spendin biomedical research throughNIH, through the states and throughprivate organizations, we get a ten-foldreturn — and probably more than that.It’s the beginning. It’s the catalyst formuch more.”Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL)

Research inthe Public andPrivate Sector

7

52 % Yes

30 % No

18 % Not sure

Americans Say Government ShouldPlay a Role in Prevention ResearchOur nation’s health care costs attributable to smoking andobesity are estimated at $243 billion. One of the key aims ofprevention research is to help Americans make behavioralchanges that can help them overcome these and otherhazardous and costly health threats. Do you believe thegovernment should play a role in prevention research?


new question

America Speaks 8

55 % Support

15% Oppose

30 % Don’t know

26 % Very important

44% Somewhat important

13 % Not too important


12% Don’t know

Many AmericansSupport Incentivesfor Companies DoingResearchDo you support or opposetax and regulatoryincentives for industriesinvesting in and conductingresearch and developmentto improve health?


Important to Make R&DTax Credit PermanentSince 1981, the federal government has offered a taxcredit to businesses pursuing research and developmentactivities. This credit is not permanent, however, and hasonly lasted through successive extensions. How importantis it that the federal research and development tax creditis made permanent?

Source: National Poll, March 2011. Charlton Research Company for Research!America

“We believe NIH should be funded at a level commensurate with the tremendous potential and importanceof basic research. Government-supported basic research is one key to how we collectively progress indiscovering novel compounds for addressing patients’ unmet medical needs.”John Castellani PRESIDENT AND CEO, PHRMA

new question

“I am lucky to be alive. Like tens ofmillions of Americans, I received asecond chance because of medicalresearch. Other Americans deserve thatsame second chance at health andhappiness. We need to make our voicesfor supporting medical research heardin Washington, so that, together, we willhelp ensure a better, healthier future forall Americans and all Virginians.”Michael MoskowitzOP-ED IN THE RICHMOND (VIRGINIA) T IMES-DISPATCH

Getting theJob Donefor Patients

Very Important toEliminate HealthDisparitiesCertain health problemssuch as diabetes, heartdisease and infant mortalityhappen more often amongminorities or citizens withlower incomes. Howimportant do you feel it is toconduct medical or healthresearch to understand andeliminate these differences?

Source: Your Candidates-Your Health PublicOpinion Poll, October 2011. JZ Analytics forResearch!America

46 % Very important


9% Somewhat unimportant

4% Very unimportant

5% Not sure

22 % Yes

58 % No

20 % Not sure

Significant decrease in percentsaying “yes” since 2008.

Medical Researchis Not MakingEnough Progress,Americans SayDo you believe that we aremaking enough progress inmedical research in the U.S.?


trend change

9

America Speaks 10

Majority of AmericansSay U.S. Doesn’t HaveBest Health CareDo you believe the UnitedStates has the best healthcare system in the world?


Significant decrease in ‘yes’ since 2008.

Opinions Split onWhether Care isBased on MostRecent ResearchDo you believe the healthcare services you personallyreceive are based on the bestand most recent researchavailable?


Americans: MoreInvestment Neededfor Military VeteransWould you say governmentinvestment in healthresearch for the benefit ofmilitary veterans and servicemembers is …


31 % Yes

54 % No

15 % Not sure

45 % Yes

33 % No

22 % Not sure

5% Too much

33 % About right

48 % Not enough

14 % Not sure

new question

trend change

54 % Part of the solution

24 % Part of the problem

22 % Not sure

Research is Part ofthe Solution to RisingHealth Care CostsWhen it comes to risinghealth care costs, would yousay research to improvehealth is part of the problemor part of the solution?


11 Getting the Job Done for Patients

“Congressional conservatives can demonstrate that skill by defending research spending that sustainscollaboration among complex institutions — corporations’ research entities and research universities.Research, including in the biological sciences, that yields epoch-making advances requires time horizonsthat often are impossible for businesses, with their inescapable attention to quarterly results.”George Will SYNDICATED COLUMNIST, JOURNALIST & AUTHOR

CER Should Identify Most EffectiveTreatments Regardless of CostComparative effectiveness research (CER) is meant tocompare ways to prevent, diagnose, treat and monitor healthconditions in order to match the right treatment to the rightpatient at the right time. Which is closest to your own view?

Source: National Poll, March 2011. Charlton ResearchCompany for Research!America

62 % Comparative effectiveness research should be used to inform patientsand doctors about the most effective treatments, regardless of cost.

16 % Comparative effectiveness research should be used to limit health careto the most affordable treatments.

22 % No opinion

new question

America Speaks 12

“Without the research of the pasttwo or three decades, we wouldn’thave many of the treatments andcures that we benefit from today.”Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

Why ScienceMatters

51 % Very important



2% Very unimportant

6% Not sure

Important for ElectedOfficials to Listen toHealth ProfessionalsIn thinking about threats toyour health, how importantis it that elected officials atall levels listen to advicefrom scientists and publichealth professionals?


new question

53 % Scientists who conductresearch to improvehealth

36 % Patients with variousdiseases and theirfamilies

11 % Elected officials

Scientists ShouldHave Most Influenceover Research FundingWhich one of the followingdo you feel should have themost influence on howgovernment funds forresearch to improve healthare spent?


13 Why Science Matters

7% Very well informed

25 % Somewhat well informed

36% Somewhat uninformed

24 % Very uninformed

8% Not sure

73 % Yes

14 % No

13 % Not sure

38 % Strongly agree

48 % Somewhat agree

8% Somewhat disagree


4% Not sure

30 % Strongly agree

49 % Somewhat agree



6% Not sure

Most Don’t KnowTheir Elected Officials’Positions on ResearchHow well informed wouldyou say you are about thepositions of your senatorsand representative when itcomes to their support ofmedical, health andscientific research?


Government ShouldEmphasize STEMCareers for YoungAmericansDo you believe the federalgovernment should placemore emphasis onincreasing the number ofyoung Americans whopursue careers in science,technology, engineering andmathematics?


Advances in ScienceHave Been Beneficial,Americans SayDo you agree or disagreewith the followingstatement? “Overall,advances in science havebenefited society and havehelped make life easier formost people.”


Most Agree thatBasic Research isNecessaryDo you agree or disagreewith the following statement?“Even if it brings noimmediate benefits, basicscientific research thatadvances the frontiers ofknowledge is necessary andshould be supported by thefederal government.”


“I don’t think there’s any question, we ought to put a priority on research in this country. Washingtondoes a lot of things that perhaps we ought to re-examine and say it ought not be doing anymore, butone thing that I think the country expects is leadership in research because it has a huge leverage effectin our quality of life in what we can do in productivity.”Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)

new question

new question

America Speaks 14

Americans SayU.S. Global HealthR&D is ImportantHow important would yousay it is that the U.S. work toimprove health globallythrough research anddevelopment?

Americans ThinkGlobal Health R&Dis Important toU.S. EconomyHow important do youthink global health researchand development is to theU.S. economy?

Most Americans TrustScientific CommunitySame Amount TodayCompared to five years ago,would you say you trust thescientific community more,less, or about the sameamount?




30 % Very important




28 % Very important




14% More

61 % Same amount

25 % Less

new question

30 % Strongly favor

31 % Somewhat favor

10 % Somewhat oppose

15 % Strongly oppose

14% Not sure

Americans SupportIncreased FederalFunding for ESCRDo you favor or opposeexpanding federal fundingfor research using embryonicstem cells?


“As medical research improves thehuman condition, it also strengthensOhio’s economy through the startup ofnew companies and by attractingbusinesses from other regions andcountries, creating new jobs andgrowing Ohio’s work force. Ohiouniversities, companies and hospitalsare working together to highlightmedical breakthroughs and jobcreation, thereby elevating Ohio’srecognition as a top-tier state formedical research and development.”Roderick McDavis, PhDPRESIDENT, OHIO UNIVERSITY

A Snapshotof StatePolling Data

15

66 % More

26 % Same amount

5% Less

3% Don’t know

Most MarylandersWant to See MoreScience & Researchin MediaWould you like to see more,less or about the sameamount of informationabout science and researchin the media?

Source: Maryland Public Opinion Poll, April 2011.Charlton Research Company forResearch!America

Ohioans SayCongress ShouldSupport Policiesthat EncourageResearchDo you agree or disagreethat Congress shouldsupport tax and regulatorypolicies that encourageprivate industries to conductmore medical research?

Source: Ohio Public Opinion Poll, April 2011.IBOPE Zogby International for Research!America

29 % Strongly agree

44 % Somewhat agree

8% Somewhat disagree


12% Not sure

America Speaks 16

Georgians ThinkCivilians Benefitfrom MilitaryHealth ResearchHow much do you thinkAmerican civilians benefitfrom health researchconducted by the U.S.military?

Many CaliforniansThink GlobalHealth ResearchCreates JobsDo you think global healthresearch creates jobs inCalifornia?

Source: Georgia Global Health Survey, May 2011.Charlton Research Company forResearch!America

Source: California Global Health Survey, July2011. Charlton Research Company forResearch!America

40 % A great deal

48 % Some

11 % Too much

1% No benefit

Most IllinoisansAgree AmericansBetter Off if U.S.Invests in GlobalHealth ResearchDo you agree or disagreethat Americans will be betteroff if the U.S. governmentinvests in research designedto improve health aroundthe world?

Source: Illinois Global Health Survey, November2010. Charlton Research Company forResearch!America

29 % Strongly agree

53 % Somewhat agree



45 % Yes

27% No

28 % Don’t know/Refused

53 % Strongly important



1% Strongly unimportant

7% Not sure

Florida ShouldEncourage YoungPeople to PursueScience CareersHow much of a priority doyou think it is for Florida toencourage young people topursue careers that requirea solid education in science?

Source: Florida Public Opinion Poll, September2011. JZ Analytics for Research!America

17 Methodology & Your Candidates - Your Health

Research!America began commissioning

polls in 1992 in an effort to understand

public support for medical, health and

scientific research. The results of

Research!America’s polls have proven

invaluable to our alliance of member

organizations and, in turn, to the

fulfillment of our mission to make

research to improve health a higher

national priority. In response to growing

usage and demand, Research!America

has expanded its portfolio, which

includes state, national and issue-

specific polling. Poll data is available by

request or at www.researchamerica.org.

Survey Methodology

Online polls are conducted with a sample size of 600-1,200 adults (age 18+) and a maximum theoreticalsampling error of +/- 4.1%. Data are demographicallyrepresentative of adult U.S. residents or of the states inwhich the polls were conducted. Polling in this publica-tion was conducted by Charlton Research Company, JZAnalytics and IBOPE Zogby.

Nineteen years of Research!America polling

shows that Americans place a high value on

our leadership and investment in medical,

health and scientific research. Yet in an October

2011 poll, few Americans said they were very

well informed about their senators’ and

representatives’ positions on research.

Research!America’s award-winning initiative,

Your Candidates – Your Health, is a voter

education initiative focused on research to

improve health. The National Alliance for

Hispanic Health provides Spanish language

content for the initiative’s website,

www.yourcandidatesyourhealth.org.

Through the election season, Your Candidates

– Your Health is asking candidates for Congress

and the presidency to let Americans know

where they stand on research for health.

1101 King Street, Suite 520Alexandria, Virginia 22314www.researchamerica.org

703-739-25771-800-366-CURE703-739-2372 FAX

[email protected]: @ResearchAmericawww.researchamerica.org/facebook

Printing of Research!America’s Poll Data Summary Volume 12,

America Speaks has been generously underwritten by:

PUBL ICAT ION DATE : JANUARY 20 12

America Speaks!

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