Obama Secures Funding for Scientific Development and Research in Illinois
Thursday, September 20, 2007
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CONTACT: Amy Brundage, 202 228 5511
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee included his funding requests in the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Appropriations Bill:
“When we invest in technological and scientific advancement, we help restore America's competitiveness and keep our military strong,” Senator Obama said. “Illinois’ academic institutions and Rock Island Arsenal are laboratories of innovation and this funding gives them the resources they need to expand research opportunities and develop ground-breaking medical and military technologies.”
Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Appropriations:
$4,000,000 to the Center for Advanced Design, Research, and Exploration (CADRE) at the University of Illinois at Chicago, for development of rapid wound healing therapies
Funding will assist CADRE in the research and development of therapies to promote rapid wound healing, lessen infection, reduce bleeding and scarring, and reduce operational medical costs using Light Emitting Diodes and directed energy/radio-frequency therapies. CADRE's developments will be extremely critical in managing patients both in theater and those affected by homeland disasters and will potentially allow immediate response to wound healing, lessen infection and scaring, and reduce operation and medical costs. Senator Obama secured these funds along with Senator Durbin.
$3,000,000 to Chicago State University, for research into unmanned aerial systems
Funding will be used to improve the effectiveness of the military's unmanned aerial systems by replacing conventional power supply systems with fuel cell technology packages specifically made for mobile robotics systems. Senator Obama secured these funds along with Senator Durbin.
$2,300,000 to Chicago State University, to develop a sustainable and portable power system for military operation
Funding will assist CSU in the development of a solar cell power generating system that can be mounted on a backpack, and rapidly deployed and reconfigured for military operation. The system will include sensors, computing systems, and intelligent processing and communications systems. Senator Obama secured these funds along with Senator Durbin.
$1,500,000 to the Illinois Institute of Technology, for research into impact-resistant materials
Funding supports the analysis and virtual design of a novel class of impact-resistant materials to be employed in light yet extremely protective vehicle armor and explosives protective gear for personnel. Senator Obama secured these funds along with Senator Durbin.
$6,200,000 to the Rock Island Arsenal, to repair the roof on Building 299 for additional manufacturing space
Building 299 is a 775,000 square foot warehouse constructed in 1942. The building is generally in good condition with the exception of the original roof, which is severely deteriorated. This project will completely remove, and properly dispose, all asbestos containing roofing components. Currently, a significant portion of the building is being used to support the Global War on Terror in the form of manufacturing, and shipping and receiving armor kits. Senator Obama secured these funds along with Senators Grassley (IA) and Harkin (IA).
$11,500,000 to the Rock Island Arsenal, to support a more robust capability to rapidly produce up-armor vehicle kits
The Arsenal will upgrade equipment to support the production of lightweight add on vehicle and body armor that is directly used to improve and increase manufacturing efforts in support of the Global War on Terror. Additionally, the equipment will also have significant safety and efficiency benefits for the Arsenal. Senator Obama secured these funds along with Senators Grassley (IA) and Harkin (IA).
$2,000,000 to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, College of Engineering, for Nanomedical Technologies
Funding will be utilized to equip the new addition to the Micro and Nanoelectronics Laboratory in order to carry out advanced research in Nanomedical Technologies. Activities will include the discovery or invention of new nanoparticles for targeting and imaging cancer; how cells are affected by infectious diseases, and how to detect pathogens.