MichBio Joins National Coalition Supporting NIH Funding and Data Privacy
As a member of the Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA), MichBio recently joined bioscience organizations from across the country in advocating for two federal policy priorities that are critical to sustaining innovation in the U.S. life sciences industry.
CSBA is a coalition of independent state and territory-based life sciences trade associations representing the nation's biotechnology ecosystem. Collectively, its member organizations advocate for public policies that support biomedical research, innovation, and the development of lifesaving therapies. Together, CSBA's members represent an industry employing more than 2.3 million people across 149,000 businesses nationwide.
In a June 16 letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders, MichBio joined 45 other CSBA member associations in urging Congress to provide robust funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the Fiscal Year 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The letter emphasizes that NIH funding is a cornerstone of the U.S. innovation ecosystem, supporting scientific training, university research, technology transfer, public-private partnerships, and the biomedical discoveries that ultimately become new therapies for patients.
The letter also notes that sustained federal investment is essential to maintaining U.S. leadership in biomedical innovation and ensuring the nation's continued competitiveness in the face of increasing global investment in life sciences research. MichBio was among the 46 state bioscience associations that signed the letter in support of this important priority.
Separately, the CSBA sent a letter to leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee expressing support for the SECURE Data Act (H.R. 8413), legislation that would establish a comprehensive federal framework for data privacy and security. The bill seeks to replace the growing patchwork of state privacy laws with a consistent national standard while preserving existing protections under HIPAA and FDA regulations that govern clinical research data.
In its letter, CSBA noted that research-intensive life sciences companies depend on the ability to ethically collect, store, and use biomedical data to develop safe and effective therapies. A clear, nationwide privacy framework, the coalition argues, would strengthen consumer protections while reducing regulatory uncertainty that can impede biomedical research and innovation. Together, these advocacy efforts reflect MichBio's commitment - through its partnership with CSBA and BIO (Biotechnology Innovation Organization) to advancing federal policies that strengthen the nation's biomedical research enterprise, foster innovation, and ensure patients continue to benefit from scientific breakthroughs.
