October 28, 2005

HOBSON & PRYCE: HOUSE APPROVES $750,000 IN FUNDING FOR OSU CANCER RESEARCH, 4-H GREEN BUILDING

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives David Hobson (R-Springfield) and Deborah Pryce (R-Upper Arlington) today announced that the House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved $750,000 in funding for cancer research conducted by The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences to evaluate freeze-dried berries for their ability to inhibit cancer development. The funding was included in the Conference Report to accompany the Fiscal Year 2006 Agriculture Appropriations bill (H.R. 2744) approved by the House today.

“The berry research funding will allow The Ohio State University to continue its work that could potentially help thousands of cancer patients. These studies are especially beneficial to the medical research community, and they also support Ohio farmers in the berry production industry,” Hobson said.

“I am thrilled with this additional significant investment in the cutting edge research being performed at The Ohio State University. Frozen berries have shown incredibly promising signs of preventing certain types of cancers in animals, and it is critically important that we continue to harness OSU's talents to explore what could result in unprecedented breakthroughs in the fight against this dreaded disease,” Pryce said.

Also included was language to support funding for the construction of an environmentally friendly and energy efficient 4-H youth development and training center on Ohio State University’s campus. The building would be the first “green” building on campus. Earlier this year, the House of Representatives approved additional funding for the 4-H youth center as part of Hobson’s Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill (H.R. 2419).

Projects include:

The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Cancer Berry Research - $750,000 to evaluate freeze-dried berries for their ability to inhibit cancer development. The research project will support human clinical trials to study the effect of berries (mainly raspberries and strawberries) on cancer polyp development, investigate the bioactive components of berries, develop farming operations to increase the availability of certain types of berry plants, and promote production. In the past two years, the project has received $1.64 million in funding.

The conference report now goes to the Senate for its consideration.