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--------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "LauraJane Cohen" <[log in to unmask]> Date: Thu, 8 May 2003 10:09:35 -0400 Subject: PARKINSON'S_ACTION_NETWORK_BOARD_CHAIR_URGES_NIH_TO_PROVIDE_ FULL_FUNDING__FOR_PARKINSON'S_DISEASE_RESEARCH_AGENDA 1000 Vermont Avenue, NW Suite 900 Washington, DC 20005 www.parkinsonsaction.org (p) 202-842-4101 (f) 202-842-4105 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:Mary Steyer 202-842-4101 PARKINSON'S ACTION NETWORK BOARD CHAIR URGES NIH TO PROVIDE FULL FUNDING FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH AGENDA Washington, DC - Thursday, May 8, 2003 - Parkinson's Action Network (PAN) Board Chairman Jeffrey C. Martin testified before Congress today, urging that Congress and the National Institutes of Health fully fund the Parkinson's Disease Research Agenda. Martin was part of a public witness panel appearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education. In 2000, the National Institutes of Health convened a group of scientists and representatives from national Parkinson's organizations to estimate how much additional Federal spending would be required to cure Parkinson's disease. The resulting document-the Parkinson's Disease Research Agenda-concluded that reaching a cure would require $1 billion in new Federal funding over 5 years. In his testimony this morning, Mr. Martin noted that "for the last four years, this committee and its counterpart in the Senate have strongly endorsed the Research Agenda and have advised NIH in increasingly strong report language to carry it out. Unfortunately, the NIH has not," he said. "This year," Martin continued, "according to the NIH's own figures, Parkinson's disease spending has lagged well behind the overall increase in NIH's budget and falls $150 million short of what the Parkinson's Disease Research Agenda would call for this year." According to Martin, "the science has progressed rapidly in the last couple years and some pilot studies show real promise...But the NIH in general, and the NINDS (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) in particular, are not well structured to translate these scientific discoveries into therapies and cures." PAN Executive Director Charles Konigsberg, commenting on Martin's testimony, noted that people from around the country are due to arrive in Washington, D.C. next week to visit their Members of Congress to deliver the message that an investment in the Parkinson's Disease Research Agenda now, can save many thousands of lives in the short-term, and avert a national crisis in the long-term if Parkinson's Disease isn't cured before the baby boomers begin to reach retirement age later this decade. "The costs of failing to cure Parkinson's now-in human terms, for our healthcare system, and for our economy-are enormous," said Konigsberg. Martin said he hoped to "work with the Subcommittee to fashion a solution that will cause the NIH to launch a translational initiative that will lead us to the goal now within reach--ending the ravages of Parkinson's disease." Founded in 1991, the Parkinson's Action Network (PAN) is the unified education and advocacy voice of the Parkinson's community fighting for a cure. Through education and interaction with the Parkinson's community, scientists, lawmakers, opinion leaders, and the public at large, PAN works to increase awareness about Parkinson's Disease and advocates for increased federal support for Parkinson's research. For more information on the Parkinson's Action Network visit www.parkinsonsaction.org. Laura Jane Cohen Director of Outreach Parkinson's Action Network 1000 Vermont Ave., NW Suite 900 Washington, D.C. 20005 ph: 202-842-4101 or 800-850-4726 fax: 202-842-4105 [log in to unmask] www.parkinsonsaction.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn