Pennsylvania HR 294: A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to establish an advisory committee and, in collaboration with the advisory committee, conduct a study on impediments to interspecialty and interdisciplinary medical research and the most promising means of incorporating emerging technologies into medical research.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2221
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 294
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HOWARD, VENKAT, HILL-EVANS, RIVERA, WAXMAN, MAYES,
FREEMAN, HOHENSTEIN AND SANCHEZ, AUGUST 14, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND
OPERATIONS, AUGUST 15, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to establish an
advisory committee and, in collaboration with the advisory
committee, conduct a study on impediments to interspecialty
and interdisciplinary medical research and the most promising
means of incorporating emerging technologies into medical
research.
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is experiencing unprecedented
scientific progress across all fields of inquiry; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has long been a center for
advances in medicine and biomedical technology; and
WHEREAS, One of the central challenges slowing medical
advancement is the volume and complexity of discoveries across
different specializations and scientific disciplines, which can
limit cross-disciplinary collaboration; and
WHEREAS, Emerging technologies, including artificial
intelligence, multi-omics integration platforms, digital twins,
wearable medical devices, robotics, gene editing, nanomaterials
and nanomachines offer significant potential for advancing
research in prosthetics, disease screening, microsurgery and
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other areas; and
WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated both the
potential and limitations of rapid scientific cooperation across
disciplines, underscoring the value of preestablished frameworks
for translational research; and
WHEREAS, By undertaking a study and establishing a dedicated
advisory committee to identify barriers and opportunities for
cross-specialty collaboration, this Commonwealth can position
itself as a national leader in 21st-century biomedical
innovation; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission to establish an advisory committee
and, in collaboration with the advisory committee, conduct a
study on impediments to interspecialty and interdisciplinary
medical research and the most promising means of incorporating
emerging technologies into medical research; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission, in collaboration with the advisory
committee, to investigate the current hurdles preventing more
effective integration of different medical specialties, related
disciplines and emerging technologies that could prove
beneficial to the advancement of medical science generally and
on specific diseases; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the advisory committee be composed of the
following members:
(1) The Secretary of Health or a designee.
(2) The Secretary of Education or a designee.
(3) Two members of the House of Representatives, one
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and
one appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of
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Representatives.
(4) One individual representing the Pennsylvania Medical
Society, selected by the Joint State Government Commission
upon the recommendation of the governing body of the
Pennsylvania Medical Society.
(5) Ten individuals representing a cross section of
medical specialties, selected by the Joint State Government
Commission.
(6) Up to 20 individuals with subject matter expertise,
selected by the Joint State Government Commission, including
at least one representative from each of the following
domains:
(i) Computer science.
(ii) Biomedical engineering.
(iii) Data science.
(iv) Public health policy.
(v) Medical ethics.
(vi) Regulatory law.
(vii) Biochemistry;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission, in
collaboration with the advisory committee, conduct a study and
prepare a report that includes all of the following:
(1) Identification of present impediments to cross-
disciplinary research.
(2) Identification of emerging technologies most
advantageous to medical research generally.
(3) Recommendations for fostering communication and
collaboration between specialists in those technologies and
medical research.
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(4) Identification of regulatory or legal barriers to
the use of those emerging technologies and recommendations
for any reforms.
(5) Recommendations for creating cross-disciplinary
fluency among specialists.
(6) Identification of methods in which the executive and
legislative branches may best support cross-disciplinary
medical research;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission, in
collaboration with the advisory committee, be authorized to
request information not protected from disclosure from State
agencies and departments for the purposes of the study;