Scleroderma Makes Significant Advances
The House and Senate Appropriations Committees made significant progress last month in developing their respective fiscal year 2009 funding bills for the Department of Health and Human Services. Both bills recommend increases in funding for the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of specific interest to the Foundation, the measures contain specific recommendations regarding scleroderma related activities at NIH and CDC.
HOUSE FY09 HHS APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Scleroderma.— “The Committee is aware that scleroderma, an over-production of collagen resulting in the hardening of skin and joints, affects an estimated 300,000 people in the United States. The Committee encourages CDC undertake steps to increase awareness in the public and larger healthcare community to allow for earlier diagnosis and treatment.”
National Institutes of Health
- Scleroderma.—“The Committee encourages the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to expand its research portfolio on scleroderma in partnership with the scleroderma community.”
- Scleroderma.—“The Committee is aware of emerging opportunities in scleroderma research and encourages the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to partner with the scleroderma patient community in convening a state of the science conference in this important area.”
SENATE FY09 HHS APPROPRIATIONS BILL
National Institutes of Health
- Scleroderma.—“The Committee encourages the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to expand its research portfolio on scleroderma in partnership with the scleroderma community.”
- Scleroderma.—“The Committee is aware of emerging opportunities in scleroderma research and encourages the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to partner with the scleroderma patient community in convening a state of the science conference in this important area.”
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