Congressional staffers experience U-M research

Twelve congressional staff members from the Michigan delegation in Washington, D.C., spent three days in mid-August learning more about federally funded research done at U-M, Michigan State University and Wayne State University.

Dr. Eva Feldman, the Russell N. DeJong Professor of Neurology in the Medical School, discusses her research with, from left, Wendy Bailey from Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick’s (D-Detroit) office; Daniela Garcia, who works with Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Brighton); and Adri Jayaratne from the office of Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Flint). (Photo by Mike Waring, U-M Washington, D.C., Office)

Led by the Washington offices of the three institutions, the legislative aides spent a day on each campus learning how universities conduct research with federal funds. The periodic tours give staff members who handle science and appropriations issues an overview of the types of research conducted at the universities.

Staffers represented eight different U.S. House members and both of Michigan's U.S. Senators. Four staff members were U-M alumni who serve various Michigan lawmakers, including Jared Page, who works for Rep. Joe Schwartz (R-Battle Creek).

"It was definitely one of the best things I have done since I came to work on Capitol Hill two years ago," Page says.

While in Ann Arbor, the staff members visited medical laboratories at the U-M Health System, met with researchers at the Institute for Social Research, toured the Duderstadt Center, and saw several examples of engineering research on North Campus.

Among those presenting were Dr. Eva Feldman, the Russell N. DeJong Professor of Neurology, whose research on the nervous system has potential for helping cure various diseases; Dr. James Baker, the Ruth Dow Doan Professor of Nanotechnology and professor of internal medicine and biomedical engineering; several stem cell researchers; and Tamas Gombosi, chair of the Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences Department.

The research conducted at each location is funded by the National Science Foundation, the departments of Energy and Defense, NASA and/or the National Institutes of Health.