University of South Florida

Amount Appropriated?

$1.0M

FFID tracks stages 1–2 — stages 3–5 vary by agency, assistance type, and earmark structure.

Project Description

In addition to the cutting-edge treatments that would become available to patients in Hillsborough County and the Tampa Bay region for the first time ever, fMRI infrastructure would also allow USF to compete for new grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), infusing additional dollars into our local economy and bringing new, high-skilled jobs to the district. To date, USF researchers have been excluded from NIH grants requiring fMRI capabilities as an essential component\u2014a lost opportunity cost of many millions of dollars in prestigious NIH funding flowing into District 14. Further, lack of access to these capabilities has precluded us from recruiting numerous preeminent brain science researchers from other top ranked institutions nation and worldwide. This requested funding would enable USF to participate in the full spectrum of clinical and basic research involving fMRI and would provide this important tool to the world-class neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, nursing and other research programs at USF. Measurable results will include: 1) offering promising cutting-edge clinical trial opportunities to patients throughout Florida\u2019s west coast, 2) increasing the share of NIH funded research to USF and Tampa Bay (which will impact the local economy), and 3) expanding our recruitment of star researchers from around the U.S. and the world. Altogether this project would bring tremendous benefits and impact to millions of people in our region, our state and beyond.