Senator Britt Welcomes NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to UAB
“It is my belief that we have to continue lifesaving, life-changing research. We have to be focused on finding cures”—Sen. Katie Britt
U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) hosted Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) last week. The visit included a keynote presentation at the UAB Hill Student Center followed by remarks from the Senator.
In her address, Senator Britt praised NIH research efforts and stressed the urgency of life-saving innovation. She said, “from the very moment that I had the opportunity to meet (HHS) Secretary Kennedy, to meet Dr. Bhattacharya throughout the confirmation process, I made sure that the importance of NIH and the incredible work that’s done here at UAB was front and center. I am so proud of what you do here … It is my belief that we have to continue lifesaving, life-changing research. We have to be focused on finding cures.”
Britt added that Alabama faces major health challenges—such as chronic and life-threatening illnesses—that hit the state hard. That makes UAB’s clinical trials and research especially vital. She noted, “the proximity to the issue makes a difference. It has been an honor to tell your story to the highest levels here in the United States … [President Trump] is committed to finding cures, he is committed to seeing life-changing, lifesaving research continue and Alabama lead the way and America lead in innovation. … You have a champion in me.”
UAB President Dr. Watts joined the event, expressing deep gratitude. He said Senator Britt “has continued to champion … biomedical research” and commended her for bringing UAB’s story to national leaders. He noted her role in organizing testimony from the O’Neal Cancer Center Director before the Senate Appropriations Committee and in pressing officials in both the White House and Congress to protect research funding. He added, “There is no greater champion in the country for federal research funding and for saving lives than Senator Britt.”
After the seated remarks, Senator Britt and Dr. Bhattacharya toured the construction site of UAB’s new Biomedical Research and Psychology Building. This facility, which broke ground last fall, will house faculty from the Heersink School of Medicine and the Department of Psychology.
Senator Britt’s presence came on the heels of her leadership in urging full funding under the Fiscal Year 2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act. That effort involved 13 Senate Republican colleagues and drew praise from leading advocacy groups, including the American Association for Cancer Research, the Association of American Cancer Institutes, and United for Medical Research.
Britt also recently secured $28.63 million in funding for Alabama via the FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act—an effort applauded by researchers statewide.
