UMass Chan Chancellor Testifies In Support Of Gov. Healey's DRIVE Legislation

WORCESTER, MA — UMass Chan Medical School Chancellor Michael F. Collins testified at the State House on Thursday in favor of Gov. Maura Healey's Discovery, Research and Innovation for a Vibrant Economy legislation.

The DRIVE legislation would allocate $400 million in state funding to grow the research and innovation economy, create thousands of jobs, and position Massachusetts as a global leader in discovery. Chancellor Collins said it would allow the medical school's faculty to continue lifesaving research programs.

“Our research community is made up of the brightest scientific minds in the world and they are losing hope. Their patients are losing hope. Research brings hope to the human condition,” said Chancellor Collins. “This legislation will be a lifesaver for the lifesaving research our faculty members are pursuing.”

Under the DRIVE legislation, $200 million would be placed in a public higher education bridge funding reserve to support the University of Massachusetts system, including its Worcester medical school.

The University of Massachusetts system said it attracts $869 million in annual research funding, with UMass Chan Medical School accounting for $350 million of the total.

“We make an investment in the young people, and we’ve had to back some of that investment out,” said Collins. “This investment would allow us to reinstate those investments again on an individual-by-individual basis.”

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