SfN Statement on Death of Sen. Edward Kennedy

Thomas J. Carew, president of the Society for Neuroscience, issued the following statement upon the death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts.

“With the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the nation has lost an unsurpassed advocate for better health care, including his life-long championing of the National Institutes of Health and biomedical research.

“As part of his commitment to better health and quality of life, Sen. Kennedy sponsored the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993 and was a staunch advocate for increased research funding through the NIH and NSF, ensuring that the American people reaped the rewards of groundbreaking research. He was particularly proud and supportive of the role Massachusetts plays as a global leader in basic research and technological innovation to improve health.

“Sen. Kennedy received the Society for Neuroscience Public Service Award in 2003 in recognition of his leadership of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, as well as his support of biomedical research funding, mental health parity, therapeutic cloning, and other efforts to improve the lives of Americans by increasing access to health care.”