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In a message dated 7/10/98 12:24:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: << Any thoughts? >> Hi Bruce: Yes there is a concern that the funding of the Udall bill may not be all that we want. However there is a developing effort to conteract this potential proplem. A private donor and the NPF hace developed a device called a seed grant proprosal. During a meeting with Dr. Tom Chase at the NPF in January to consider this issue the following conclusions were reached. People with PD should not put all their hopes in one basket. It was the general concessus of the meeting that Dir. Varmus of the NIH would fund the best application for grants. Those being grants that presented the most potability of success. In that frame work the idea that we should develop a pilot program to encourage young researchers to work in PD research was proposed. We would locate these researchers with potential and fund them to the tune of $25,000 to $50,000 from private sources. These researchers would with in a short time develop enough information to apply to the NIF for a full grant to continue their work. I expect that you will hear more about this effort in the future. It is important that that we realize that we are really a small minority in the totality of the health care issue. We future need to realize that we must help our selves by raising funds for research. So yes there is concern about the impact of little or no funding in light of the energy expended and the hope embodied in this effort, It was nice to see that our champion, Senator Spector has recovered from his illness and has returned to the floor of the Senate. After the Pittsburgh tribute for him at which Mohammed Ali was a guest Senator Stratton made some private commitments to do all that he could to fully appropriate the Udall Bill. Dale Severance The above thoughts are my own based on conversations and events that I have participated in and do not reflect the views of any other party.