This is what the U.S. Senate passed last week. I don't think a copy has
been distributed yet to the list yet.
SEC. ___. PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH.
(a) SHORT TITLE.__This section may be cited as the "Morris K. Udall
Parkinson's Research Act of 1997."
_______________________________________________________________
(b) FINDING AND PURPOSE.
(1) FINDING --- Congress finds that to take full advantage of the
tremendous potential for finding a cure or effective treatment,
the Federal investment in Parkinson's must be expanded, as well as
the coordination strengthened among the National Institutes of Health
research institutes.
(2) Purpose. ---It is the purpose of this section to provide for
the expansion and coordination of research regarding Parkinson's,
and to improve care and assistance for afflicted individuals and
their family caregivers.
________________________________________________________________
(c) PARKINSON'S RESEARCH. Part B of title IV of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Sec 409B (a) IN GENERAL --- The Director of NIH shall establish a
program for the conduct and support of research and training with
respect to Parkinson's disease (subject to the extent of amounts
appropriated under subsection (e)).
(b) INTER-INSTITUTE COORDINATION.-
(1) IN GENERAL.-The Director of NIH shall provide for the coordination
of the program established under subsection (a) among all of the
national research institutes conducting Parkinson's research.
(2) CONFERENCE.-Coordination under paragraph (1) shall include the
convening of a research planning conference not less frequently than
once every 2 years. Each such conference shall prepare and submit to the
Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Labor and Human
Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations and the
Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives a report
concerning the conference.
(c) MORRIS K. UDALL RESEARCH CENTERS.
(1) IN GENERAL.-The Director of NIH shall award Core Center Grants to
encourage the development of innovative multidisciplinary research and
provide training concerning Parkinson's. The Director shall award not
more than 10 Core Center Grants and designate each center funded under
such grants as a Morris K. Udall Center for Research on Parkinson's
Disease.
(2) REQUIREMENTS.
(A) IN GENERAL.--- With Respect to Parkinson's, each center
assisted under this subsection shall-
(i) use the facilities of a single institution or a consortium of
cooperating institutions, and meet such qualifications as may be
prescribed by the Director of the NIH; and
(ii) conduct basic. and clinical research.
(B) DISCRETIONARY REQUIREMENTS
With respect to Parkinson's, each center assisted under this subsection
may-
(i) conduct training programs for scientists and health professionals;
(ii) conduct programs to provide information and continuing education to
health professionals;
(iii) conduct programs for the dissemination of information to the
public.
(iv) separately or in collaboration with other centers, establish a
nationwide data system derived from patient populations with
Parkinson's, and where possible, comparing relevant data involving
general populations;
(v) separately or in collaboration with other centers, establish a
Parkinson's Disease Information Clearinghouse to facilitate and enhance
knowledge and understanding of Parkinson's disease; and
(vi) separately or in collaboration with other centers, establish a
national education program. that fosters a national focus on Parkinson's
and the care of those with Parkinson's.
(3) STIPENDS REGARDING TRAINING PROGRAMS.---A center may use funds
provided under paragraph (1) to provide stipends for scientists and
health professionals enrolled in training programs under paragraph (2)(B
).
(4) DURATION OF SUPPORT.-Support of a center under this
subsection may be for a period not exceeding five years. Such period may
be extended by the Director of NIH for one or more additional periods of
not more than five years if the operations of such center have been
reviewed by an appropriate technical and scientific peer review group
established by the Director and if such group has recommended to the
Director that such period should be extended.
________________________________________________________________________
_
(d) MORRIS K. UDALL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE
RESEARCH.-The Director of NIH shall establish a grant program to support
investigators with a proven record of excellence and innovation in
Parkinson s research and who demonstrate potential for significant
future breakthroughs in the understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis
, and treatment of Parkinson's. Grants under this subsection shall be
available for a period of not to exceed 5 years.
________________________________________________________________________
__
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.-For the purpose of carrying out
this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for
fiscal year 1998 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the
fiscal years 1999 and 2000.
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Kingwood, TX
