Work is underway to see how humans respond to various infections and vaccines. The $100 million in funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases will help cover research expenses.

The studies being done at six Human Immune Phenotyping Centers on infections and vaccinations is different in that the research will be done on humans, rather than on animals.

West Nile is one of the viruses that will be researched. The Mayo Clinic says that most people don't become seriously ill with the virus. In most cases, mild symptoms include fever and headache.

Learning how different populations respond to various elements will greatly help doctors learn how to best treat patients. NIAID director of the Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation division Dr. Daniel Rotrosen says that the research will help broaden doctor's knowledge about how the human body works.

"The knowledge gained also will improve our understanding of the range of vaccine responses in particular subpopulations, including newborns, young children, the elderly, patients taking immunosuppressive medications and those with underlying diseases of the immune system, such as allergy and autoimmune diseases," Dr. Rotrosen said.

Healthcare reform hasn't won over some doctors and health care professionals in San Diego. This past weekend, hundreds of health care workers converged on Harbor Island for "The National Doctor's Tea Party" to protest "ObamaCare," reports ABC affiliate KGTV.

Those who are against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act believe that patients will ultimately suffer because of the law. Under healthcare reform, all Americans will be required to have health insurance begging in 2014. Protester Dr. Adam Dorin told KGTV that he believes "ObamaCare" will prevent him from providing care to his patients.

"Quality is going to go down; it's going to get more difficult," Dorin told the news station. "We're going to have more people in the system with quality of care probably not what it is today."

The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, an organization that promotes the tea parties, say that requiring people to purchase health insurance is unconstitutional. The organization asserts that the new regulations will place them under tighter oversight by insurance companies and stifle innovation by doctors.

As the American population continues to age, the need for qualified health care professionals continues to grow. However, there may not be enough workers to fill this need.

In order to help fund training for health care workers, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will award more than $159 million in grant money to help train geriatric specialists and recruit minorities.

It's hoped that the money will enhance the quality of health and better serve people. The Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius says that building a strong health care system is crucial to the country's well-being.

"We cannot build a healthier America if our country continues to face a growing health professions shortage," says Sebelius. "A well-trained, educated and diverse workforce is critical to meeting future health care demands, and to reforming the nation's health care system."

The U.S. Department of Labor says that the need for registered nurses is expected to grow more quickly than average for all occupations. The department predicts that the need for registered nurses alone will grow by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018.

Enhancements in treating cystic fibrosis have extended the life expectancy of many who suffer from the condition. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation says that as recently as the 1950's, people with the condition rarely lived long enough to attend school. Today, however, people can expect to live into their 40s.

Despite such great strides, more work needs to be done. The U.S. Senate recently passed the Improving Access to Clinical Trials Act, which will allow patients with rare diseases the chance to take part in clinical trials while still receiving public health care benefits.

"We are one step closer to breaking down a serious barrier to participation in clinical trials, which one day could deliver a cure for cystic fibrosis," said Cystic Fibrosis Foundation president and CEO Robert Beall. "This legislation represents an important opportunity for people with CF to take part in groundbreaking research that was previously out of their reach."

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation asserts that many people with rare diseases don't participate in clinical trials because the compensation would make them ineligible for government medical programs.

Fortunately for people with serious medical conditions, new health care rules will bar health insurance companies from denying them coverage based on a pre-existing condition.

With the costs of health care continuing to rise, many employers are finding that their budgets are being squeezed. One way some companies are cutting costs is through offering programs aimed at making employees healthier.

One program employers can use is offered through Fidelity and RedBrick Health. The program, referred to as an integrated health engagement platform, has employees complete an interactive health assessment online. The software creates a "Personal HealthMap" which is a customized health profile with instructions on how to improve and maintain health.

"Employers are struggling to manage rising health care costs for their workers and increasing engagement in health management programs is one very effective way of doing that for both the employer and the employee," said workplace investing at Fidelity Investments president James MacDonald.

In addition to becoming healthier, the program allows employers to reward employees for their healthy lifestyle decisions with rewards like contributions to a company 401(k) program.

Research shows that preventative care measures can save money on the long-run. Employers stand to benefit from having healthier employees that will require fewer sick days and won't drive up the costs of group health insurance plans.