Posted by Sandy Donchess on October 25, 1998 at 21:40:44:
In Reply to: Special Initiative in Autoimmune Disease Research posted by Bill Schmidt, JDF on October 24, 1998 at 21:17:46:
Here is the report:
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International Applauds $2 Billion Increase for NIH
New York, N.Y.; Oct. 21, 1998—The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International (JDF) applauds Congress and the Clinton Administration for joining together to increase the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget by $2 billion to $15.6 billion, a nearly 15% increase over last year’s budget. The new increase, which is the largest dollar increase in history, paves the way for a substantial increase in diabetes research across the NIH and provides the first step towards JDF’s goal of doubling the NIH budget in five years.
“We are thrilled to see an increase for the NIH of this magnitude and especially pleased that Speaker Gingrich led the charge in including $30 million devoted towards research for autoimmune diseases, including Type 1 diabetes,” said Robert Wood Johnson IV, Chairman of JDF International. “The Administration and Congressional leadership—especially Representative John Porter (R-IL), Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), and others—deserve high praise for their commitment to increased funding for diabetes research and their commitment to the many people suffering from this deadly disease.”
The NIH is one of the world’s foremost biomedical research centers and the Federal focal point for biomedical research in the U.S. The NIH conducts research in its own laboratories; supports the research of non-Federal scientists in universities, medical schools, hospitals, and research institutions throughout the country and abroad; helps in the training of research investigators; and fosters communication of biomedical information.
“We’re looking forward to continued collaboration with the Clinton Administration and Congress to fund research that will help find a cure for diabetes, a disease which kills one American every three minutes,” added Mr. Johnson. “Together, we will find a cure.”
Funding for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) was increased by 14% (an additional $122 million), close to JDF’s request for a 15% increase. Under the bill, the total NIDDK budget will rise to nearly $1 billion. The NIDDK is one of the many institutes that make up the overall NIH. Although NIDDK sponsors approximately two-thirds of all of NIH’s diabetes research, more than nine other NIH institutes also support diabetes research.
JDF supported the special $30 million research initiative research into autoimmune diseases. The report accompanying the budget bill states the following:
Autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and lupus affect millions of Americans and disproportionately affect women and minorities. It is believed that enhanced research in this area holds the potential to cure and prevent many diseases. In addition, more needs to be known about the specific environmental agents that are causing the onset of the disease, genetic susceptibility, and how the body regulates the autoimmune response. Therefore, NIAID [an institute within NIH] is strongly urged to expand its research efforts to capitalize on recent discoveries of autoimmune reactions and newly developed treatments that can suppress immune responses without toxic side effects...
Looking ahead to the future, JDF will continue to work actively with the NIH and all of the institutes that have an interest in diabetes research to discuss the extraordinary research opportunities in diabetes. We will work to ensure that this remarkable budget increase is used to substantially boost funding for diabetes research at each relevant NIH institute. We will be aided in this effort by the following language in the report accompanying the budget bill:
The conference agreement concurs with Senate report language regarding the need for expanded research into Type 1, or juvenile, diabetes. NIDDK and other NIH institutes with an interest in diabetes are encouraged to focus additional resources in this critically important area.