Three UNMC faculty members testified at the Nebraska Legislature before the Appropriations Committee Monday on behalf of the University of Nebraska System in support of maintaining funding for the Biomedical Research Development Fund, Pediatric Cancer Research Fund and Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative Fund.
Each of these respective funds had been identified for potential cuts in the executive budget proposal for 2026-27. The Legislature’s Appropriations Committee has included these funds within its proposed budget.
Ann Anderson-Berry, MD, PhD, chief of neonatology, Don Coulter, MD, the Edna Ittner Chair of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, and Tammy Kielian, PhD, the Choudari Kommineni, DVM, PhD, Professor of Pathology, testified on behalf of the university.
Dr. Anderson-Berry is executive director of the Child Health Research Institute and medical director of the Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative. She testified in support of both the Pediatric Cancer Research Fund and Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative Fund.
“In this hearing, we focus on finance,” Dr. Anderson-Berry said. “But what I am here to talk to you about is Nebraskans — our mothers, infants and children — and the return on investment that Nebraska has received by improving outcomes for these important populations, and the work that still needs to be done to ensure a healthy future for our state.”
This state funding resulted in exponential return on investment via federal grants, Dr. Anderson-Berry told state senators. Most importantly: “These funds have had a positive impact on birth outcomes for Nebraskans in each of your districts. NPQIC partners with every delivery hospital in the state to ensure that each birth is supported by the most current and safest care.”
Dr. Coulter, director of the Pediatric Cancer Research Group, testified that the Pediatric Cancer Research Fund, created in 2014 by the vision of the Nebraska Legislature, has “synthesized seven new drugs that are currently under investigation for future clinical studies. We are evaluating potential causes of the increased incidence of pediatric cancer in Nebraska and identifying risk factors that may be more impactful on our rural population. These studies have the added benefit of shedding light on other childhood issues including birth defects, childhood obesity, access to care issues and other determinants of overall health.”
This is especially important as Nebraska has the highest incidence of pediatric cancer of any state west of Pennsylvania, Dr. Coulter said.
Dr. Kielian, a former UNMC Distinguished Scientist, is originally from Stanton, Nebraska. She testified that the Biomedical Research Development Fund was instrumental in her return to Nebraska, where her lab not only works to improve health outcomes – it’s also a successful small business, employing eight Nebraskans and pumping federal grant dollars into the state economy.
“This fund has been one of our state’s most powerful resources for bringing in and keeping crucial research and talent here, in Nebraska,” Dr. Kielian said.
She concluded: “I am proud that I was able to come home to do this work here, in Nebraska, on behalf of Nebraskans, thanks to the Tobacco Settlement Biomedical Research Development Fund.”
The Legislature must bring its budget recommendation to the floor by day 40 of its session, March 9. Appropriations bills must be passed by day 50, March 25. The governor can sign, not sign, veto or line-item veto items of appropriation.