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The University of California, Davis, has launched the next phase of its campaign highlighting the value of federally funded research, From Labs to Lives, as threats  to research funding continue — putting at risk future lifesaving cures, U.S. leadership in technology and innovation and jobs.

The 51�ԹϺ��� Davis Office of Strategic Communications initiated From Labs to Lives in February, as the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies began terminating grants and cutting support for research at 51�ԹϺ��� Davis and other universities. Since then, the campaign has evolved to include more voices from 51�ԹϺ��� Davis scientists across disciplines and .

The updated campaign brings audiences more perspectives from people who have benefited from 51�ԹϺ��� Davis research, including former patients, animal owners and farmers. It also adds detail about the economic benefits of federally supported research. 51�ԹϺ��� Davis colleges, schools and other campus units are supporting the campaign with website takeovers, social media posts, articles and other content about the importance of 51�ԹϺ��� Davis research. 

“Whether they know it or not, people have been touched in some way by research at 51�ԹϺ��� Davis – from the foods people eat, to the medical care they receive, to treatments for their pets and the health of our planet,” said Dana Topousis, chief marketing and communications officer at 51�ԹϺ��� Davis. “We created From Labs to Lives to promote public awareness of the importance of this work at a time when it faces its greatest threat. We’re heartened by the response we’ve gotten and are eager to move forward with this campaign.”

Dozens of federal research grants to 51�ԹϺ��� Davis have been terminated since February, imperiling studies into Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, sustainable transportation, , and other areas. Many of the terminated awards have since been reinstated. Other notices of termination remain disputed in court or procedural appeals with the agency.

Overall, the federal government provided 47% of the $961 million in funding for research at 51�ԹϺ��� Davis for the year ended June 30. Federal investments play a critical role in supporting research that may not otherwise be funded by other sources. The U.S. model of government leveraging university expertise and state-of-the-art resources has been the most productive in the world, fueling prosperity and global leadership for decades. While the university continues to seek partnerships with private industry, philanthropy and state government, there is no substitute for the federal partnership to advance research in the broad public interest.

Every dollar spent on research at 51�ԹϺ��� Davis generates more than $2 for California’s economy. The university’s spending on academic research generates $2.1 billion statewide, and 4,316 jobs in academic research lead to a total of 9,577 jobs statewide, according to an economic impact analysis released earlier this year. The university has a $13.2 billion impact on the state overall.

Roughly 40% of 51�ԹϺ��� Davis’ records of invention last year were at least partially supported by federal funding. The university filed 187 of these records, which are the initial step in evaluating the potential for patentability and commercialization, in the fiscal year that ended June 30, a 34% increase from the year before.

The University of California, which includes Davis and nine other campuses, is promoting  to underscore the vital importance of the system’s world-leading research universities and their importance to the state, nation, world and future generations.

The 51�ԹϺ��� Davis Office of Strategic Communications produced from Labs to Lives in partnership with the Office of Research and Government and Community Relations.