Congresswoman Stephanie Bice hosted National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya in Oklahoma City for a series of visits focusing on medical research and innovation. The visit included tours of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), Stephenson Cancer Center, OU Health Sciences Center, and Dean McGee Eye Institute.
“It was an honor to welcome Director Bhattacharya to Oklahoma,” said Congresswoman Bice. “Our state is driving change in the medical and biotech fields, with researchers and institutions making meaningful progress every day. With 322 active projects and $150 million in NIH funding across Oklahoma, we’re committed to building on this momentum and delivering real results for patients and families.”
During their stop at OMRF, the group learned about ongoing work in autoimmune disease, aging, and genetics research. OMRF manages 65 active NIH-funded projects valued at over $40 million, and last year received $49 million in NIH funding.
“When people think about medical research, they often don’t realize that OMRF is one of the world’s leaders in studying conditions like aging and autoimmune diseases. Or they may not know that our work has led to life-changing drugs and tests for conditions like sickle-cell disease, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis,” said OMRF President Dr. Andrew Weyrich.
“Thanks to the NIH, the U.S. stands at the center of the world’s biomedical research stage. With leaders like Dr. Bhattacharya and congressional champions like Representative Bice, we are poised to continue making groundbreaking discoveries that improve people’s lives.”
At Stephenson Cancer Center—the only National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center in Oklahoma—the delegation discussed clinical trials, cancer care innovations, and community health outreach. Stephenson is ranked among the top 2% of U.S. cancer centers by patient enrollment for clinical trials.
“We are thrilled to welcome Director Bhattacharya to the University of Oklahoma and showcase the incredible momentum we’ve built as the state’s leading academic health system,” said Gary Raskob, Senior Vice President and Provost, OU Health Sciences. “Partnership is essential to create lasting change for Oklahoma, and today’s visit demonstrates our shared commitment with the NIH to advance discoveries, expand access, and improve lives across our state for generations to come.”
The visit concluded at Dean McGee Eye Institute (DMEI), where discussions centered on NIH-funded vision science research as well as clinical programs. DMEI receives NIH support and is nationally recognized for its ophthalmology work.
“It is an honor to have the Director of the NIH visit the Dean McGee Eye Institute to see first-hand the value of federal grant dollars at work. We appreciate the support of Dr. Bhattacharya and Representative Stephanie Bice and their efforts to improve the quality of life for our state and our nation.” said R. Michael Siatkowski, MD, MBA CEO of DMEI.
“I am honored to have visited state of the art research facilities with Representative Bice” said NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya. “New innovations stemming from research here in the fields of aging biology and cancer will aid in the effort to Make America Healthy Again. I am proud of the investment in the NIH IDeA program that supports institutions such as OU and OMRF. These institutions show that great science is happening all around the nation!”
Stephanie Bice currently serves as U.S. Representative for Oklahoma’s 5th district after replacing Kendra Horn in 2021 (https://bice.house.gov/about). She has held her seat since 2021 following service in the Oklahoma Senate from 2014 through 2020 (https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/B001303). Born in Oklahoma City in 1973, she continues to reside there today (https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2020/11/04/stephanie-bice-wins-oklahoma-city-congressional-seat-defeating-kendra-horn/60559189007/). Bice graduated from Oklahoma State University–Stillwater with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1995.
