Senators Marleau, Robertson, Jones and Warren offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 67.

            A resolution to urge the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to continue the Perinatology Research Branch facility in Detroit.

            Whereas, In 1999, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded a ten-year contract to house the Perinatology Research Branch (PRB) at Wayne State University. The mission of the PRB is to conduct clinical and basic research in perinatal medicine, with the goal of developing diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventative strategies to improve pregnancy outcomes. In addition, the mission also includes the training of physicians and scientists whose aim is to improve the health care of pregnant women and their unborn children; and

            Whereas, The PRB has been transformational in the delivery of obstetrics care in the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan. Over 20,000 pregnant women, mostly from indigent households, have received world-class care as a result of the PRB and its clinical partnership with Wayne State University. Housed in the city of Detroit, the PRB provides a racially and ethnically diverse patient population a unique and critical set of clinical access points; and

            Whereas, The city of Detroit, the state of Michigan, the Detroit Medical Center, and Wayne State University have made significant investment in infrastructure in order to properly house the PRB at no cost to the NIH. These entities understand the value and importance the PRB brings to the region; and

            Whereas, This facility has had a tremendous economic impact on Detroit and the state of Michigan, generating $35 million of economic impact per year. The PRB employs over 120 individuals in the state of Michigan, mostly in high-paying research and clinical positions. The PRB has also brought 150 indirect jobs due to the collaboration with Wayne State University. In addition to the jobs, the PRB has brought with it more than $200 million in federal research funds to our state over the last ten years; and

            Whereas, During the last decade, the Detroit-based PRB has had an impressive list of research accomplishments, which were made possible because of the unique resources our region has provided to the facility. The PRB has been able to collaborate with the Wayne State University School of Medicine, which is regarded as one of the top urban health research centers with a high level of expertise in obstetrics and gynecological research. Housed in the city of Detroit, the PRB has access to a unique and critical set of clinical access points of both racial and ethnic diversity; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services  to continue the work of the Perinatology Research Branch facility in the city of Detroit and continue its tremendous research in our state; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and Wayne State University.