DOYLESTOWN, PA—Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) welcomed Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to Bucks County for a visit to the Hepatitis B Foundation, the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, and the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC)—three nationally recognized non-profit institutions whose work has long stood at the forefront of biomedical discovery, public health advancement, and the development of lifesaving treatments.
A longtime partner of all three organizations, Fitzpatrick arranged the visit and accompanied Dr. Bhattacharya throughout the PABC campus. Since coming to Congress, Fitzpatrick has consistently fought to protect stable and reliable NIH funding, grounded in the understanding that biomedical progress depends not only on discovery, but on the continuity required to deliver results.
During the visit, Fitzpatrick and Dr. Bhattacharya toured research laboratories and met with scientists conducting NIH-funded translal research focused on hepatitis B, liver disease, and cancer. They also participated in a roundtable discussion with leaders from the host institutions and biotechnology companies operating on campus to discuss drug development and related research underway across nearly 60 companies based at PABC, much of it made possible through sustained NIH investment.
The visit underscored the critical role regional research hubs like PABC play in advancing national biomedical priorities and translating federally funded science into real-world treatments.
“This campus has never been peripheral to American biomedical progress—it has helped carry it forward for generations,” Fitzpatrick said. “For decades, the Hepatitis B Foundation, the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, and the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center have applied scientific excellence and innovation in the service of public health—turning discovery into cures and research into public good. Today’s visit was about stewardship—ensuring that national research priorities and funding decisions are guided by institutions that have earned the country’s trust through results, integrity, and impact over time. I am grateful to Lou Kassa and the teams across PABC, the Hepatitis B Foundation, and the Blumberg Institute for their leadership and vision, and to Dr. Bhattacharya for his partnership. I look forward to continuing this work together so that PA-1 remains a place where American biomedical leadership is not only strengthened—but sustained.”
"The PA Biotechnology Center is a unique biomedical ecosystem that brings together brilliant scientists to address scientific questions from the basic understanding of disease to drug discovery. The Central Bucks and PABC partnership for students taking AP Chemistry is an exciting and novel opportunity to train the future workforce in biomedicine. I appreciate Representative Fitzpatrick organizing this tour and bringing me to the PABC,” said Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, NIH Director.
“Our organizations exemplify the power of collaboration—where basic science, clinical insight, public health, and biotechnology come together to tackle some of our most pressing health challenges. It was a pleasure to host NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick and walk them through our labs, where Blumberg scientists and member companies are conducting top-tier research and translating discovery into real-world impact. We appreciate Congressman Fitzpatrick’s continued partnership, and the opportunity to have a productive conversation about the federal government’s role in supporting scientific innovation and the translation of discovery into treatments and cures,” said Louis P. Kassa III, MPA, CEO of the three nonprofits and president of the PABC.
Congressman Fitzpatrick has made advancing the work of the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center and its partner institutions a sustained priority—bringing national scientific leadership to Bucks County, advocating for the continuity these institutions require, and elevating the research rooted here to inform national biomedical progress. His focus remains on ensuring that the work being done in his community moves forward without interruption and delivers meaningful results for patients nationwide.
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