Research Triangle Park, N.C. - Congressman David Price (D-NC) today attended the grand opening of the Clinical Research Unit at the National Institute of Environmental Health Services (NIEHS), located in RTP. Price gave the following remarks:

Thanks to Joe Graedon. It is a pleasure to be here today with Dr. Birnbaum, Dr. Gottesman, Dr. Califf, Senator Hagan, Congressman Etheridge, Congressman Miller, Lieutenant Governor Dalton, DHHS Secretary Cansler, Commissioner Page, Mayor Bell, and Dr. Zeldin.

Now we all no doubt like to look in on NIEHS as often as we can, but I must say I feel like a very frequent visitor this year. That's because NIEHS is making some really important steps forward.

I am thrilled with the appointment of your new director, Linda Birnbaum, a friend, neighbor and world-renowned scientist, and it was very satisfying to see her honored by the National Society of Toxicology last month in Washington. Now it's my pleasure to help you celebrate the Grand Opening of your new Clinical Research Unit.

The Clinical Research Unit will serve as a key point of partnership and research collaboration among the many fine universities and health and science organizations throughout the Research Triangle Park.

Our presence here today bears witness to the pride North Carolina takes, not only in the presence of NIEHS, but in the life-saving and live-enhancing research you do, now more important than ever, as our country takes on – in some cases belatedly – the environmental energy, and public health challenges that are likely to define the 21st century.

I am proud to have the NIEHS located in my congressional district, and it is my pleasure to represent its efforts on Capitol Hill and to share its stories of success with my colleagues.

• NIEHS was a major player in studying lead and the related health problems with learning, memory and behavior. Thanks to your research and public health education, lead levels in children have dramatically decreased in the past 20 years.
• As we all know, NIEHS researchers discovered the breast cancer gene.
• This year, the NIEHS Sister Study exceeded its goal of recruiting 50,000 women to research the environmental causes of breast cancer.
• My colleagues and I are keeping up with the NIEHS research on Bisphenol A (BPA) and other endocrine disrupting chemicals, which is of great interest to the public and to public health officials.

This list of accomplishments goes on and on, and I'm sure it will only get longer as the new Clinical Research Unit gets underway.

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