Senator Inouye, Champion for Research, Dies at 88

Senator Daniel K. Inouye, the Senate’s second longest serving member, died Monday, December 17, 2012 at the age of 88. Senator Inouye served in World War II where he was severely wounded and lost his right arm. He often remarked that the care he received helped him to appreciate the importance of investing in research for health.

The lessons from that life-changing WW II experience stayed with him throughout his career, leading him to become one of the most well-respected and active Senate champions for health research. In particular, he was a staunch supporter of the tropical medicine research conducted done by the Department of Defense to protect the health of service men and women from infectious disease. The facility in Silver Spring, Maryland, where the WRAIR (Walter Reed Army Institute of Research) and NMRC (Naval Medical Research Center) are based was dedicated to Senator Inouye in 2001 and bear his name.

For the past three years, ASTMH had the privilege of testifying before Senator Inouye’s Department of Defense subcommittee about the value of this research at DoD. His office has consistently supported the work done by the Society’s members. “Senator Inouye’s commitment to a strong U.S. investment in tropical medicine research at the DoD has given our current and future soldiers the lasting gift of better health. His style of leadership and problem-solving is a model for all new members of Congress. He will be missed by the tropical medicine/global health research and development community” said David H. Walker, MD, ASTMH president.