Tom Wieck
DemocraticQ1 Iowa currently has the nation’s second-highest cancer rate and is one of only a few states where the cancer rate is increasing. What policies, if any, would you support regarding this issue?
I don’t have a full understanding of what has been done so far, but I would begin with a meta-analysis of any good research that currently exists to trace back to the root causes that lead to the types of cancer were facing here in Iowa. By identifying the the root causes, we can come up with solutions that will positively impact the health of Iowans in the future.
Keywords: Meta analysis, root cause, targeted solutions
Q2 Iowa’s universities receive roughly $350 million annually in federal research funding. NIH funding for research at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University fell by over $125 million from FY2024 to FY2025. What is your view on these funding reductions, and what policies, if any, would you support regarding funding for scientific research conducted in Iowa?
The greatest innovations on this planet have largely come from the United States and its research capabilities. While I am only a state candidate and do not impact NIH funding or other grants, I believe that future innovation relies on our tax dollars to flow to universities like the University of Iowa to solve the problems of today and the future
Q3 Scientific evidence is generated through the systematic testing and evaluation of ideas. It provides knowledge that helps us understand the world and predict the likely consequences of different choices, such as policy making related to public health, energy, agriculture, and environmental regulation. What role, if any, should scientific evidence and expert input play in your policymaking process, and how would you evaluate competing or uncertain scientific claims when making policy decisions? What role, if any, should that process play when scientific consensus and public opinion diverge?
I will assume that scientific evidence being referred to has been peer reviewed and accepted and presented without ulterior motives, other than to get to the truth. I qualify my answer in this way because researchers one time have promoted cigarettes as a healthy choice to aid digestion (https://www.rgare.com/knowledge-center/article/smoking-a-100-year-story-that-doesn-t-end-here).
With that assumption – I fully support utilizing Scientific evidence and expert input to policies that impact public health, energy, agriculture, and environmental regulation.