Maryland Health - General Section 13-1117

      (a)      (1)      For fiscal year 2007 and each subsequent fiscal year, the Governor shall include at least $2,000,000 in the annual budget in appropriations for the Statewide Academic Health Center Tobacco-Related Diseases Research Grant under this section.

            (2)      Subject to the other provisions of this section, the Department may distribute a Statewide Academic Health Center Tobacco-Related Diseases Research Grant to the University of Maryland Medical Group for the purpose of enhancing research activities that may lead to a reduction in morbidity and mortality rates for tobacco-related diseases in the State.

            (3)      This section may not be implemented until funds are specifically allocated in the State budget for this purpose.

      (b)      A Tobacco-Related Diseases Research Grant may be used to conduct research in the following areas:

            (1)      Health services research to determine:

                  (i)      Best methods of delivering services to diverse populations;

                  (ii)      Factors and policies that facilitate delivery of health care services; and

                  (iii)      Factors that inhibit delivery of services, including physical, cultural, economic, and social factors, with the goal of determining appropriate methods to increase participation of individuals in medically underserved populations in clinical trials;

            (2)      Translational research; and

            (3)      Clinical research.

      (c)      Before receiving a Tobacco-Related Diseases Research Grant, the University of Maryland Medical System shall:

            (1)      Submit a Tobacco-Related Diseases Research Plan that:

                  (i)      Provides a detailed plan as to how the Tobacco-Related Diseases Research Grant will be spent;

                  (ii)      Provides a complete inventory of prevention, education, screening, treatment, and research activities relating to tobacco-related diseases that are currently being conducted by the institution, including a breakdown of the types of tobacco-related diseases to which these activities relate;

                  (iii)      Specifies the source and amount of funding for all of the education, screening, treatment, and research activities relating to tobacco-related diseases that are identified under item (ii) of this item;

                  (iv)      Demonstrates that any early detection or screening program that is or will be funded under the Tobacco-Related Diseases Research Grant provides necessary treatment or linkages to necessary treatment for uninsured individuals who are diagnosed with a tobacco-related disease as a result of the screening process;

                  (v)      Certifies that the tobacco-related diseases research activities that will be funded by the Tobacco-Related Diseases Research Grant have been endorsed by an independent peer review group that is comprised of experts in the field from outside the institution who will not be involved in the research;

                  (vi)      Identifies the individuals who make up the independent peer review group; and

                  (vii)      Includes any other information that is requested by the Department; and

            (2)      Enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Department of Business and Economic Development, and the Maryland Technology Development Corporation that:

                  (i)      Establishes the scope of the State's ownership or other financial interest in the commercialization and other benefits of the results, products, inventions, and discoveries of tobacco-related diseases research activities funded by a Tobacco-Related Diseases Research Grant;

                  (ii)      Establishes a plan for expediting the translation of tobacco-related diseases research activities into treatment protocols and clinical trials; and

                  (iii)      To the extent consistent with federal and State law, reflects the intellectual property policies of the institution.

      (d)      A memorandum of understanding established under subsection (c)(2) of this section may allow for the selection of a higher education institution or private entity to expedite the translation of cancer research activities into treatment protocols and clinical trials.

      (e)      The Department may not distribute a Tobacco-Related Diseases Research Grant unless the Department first determines that:

            (1)      The Tobacco-Related Diseases Research Plan will help achieve the State's public health goals;

            (2)      The University of Maryland Medical Group will not use any part of the Grant to supplant the funding for any existing education, screening, treatment, and research activities relating to tobacco-related diseases or any other type of current expenditure by the institution;

            (3)      The Grant will be used to conduct research in the areas specified in subsection (b) of this section;

            (4)      The institution has executed a memorandum of understanding as required by subsection (c)(2) of this section; and

            (5)      The institution satisfies any other requirement established by the Department as a condition of receiving the Grant.

      (f)      Each year, the Department shall evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the research that is conducted under a Tobacco-Related Diseases Research Grant.