FoNIA June 22 Capitol Hill Briefing

The Friends of the NIA (FoNIA) held a Capitol Hill briefing on June 22 on “Turning Discovery into Health: Learn about the Latest at the National Institute on Aging.”

The briefing started out with updates from NIA Director Dr. Richard Hodes and Deputy Director Dr. Marie A. Bernard on the latest groundbreaking research activities and outreach efforts within the organization. Dr. Neil Buckholtz, director of the NIA’s Division of Neuroscience, also shared the results from the 2015 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Summit.

Dr. Kathryn Jedrziewski, FoNIA co-chair and deputy director, Institute on Aging, University of Pennsylvania, gave insights on the role the NIA plays in advancing research at her institute.

Susan Peschin, MHS, FoNIA chair and president & CEO of the Alliance, concluded the briefing with a recap on recent FoNIA activities as well as an update on the policy front. She shared some encouraging news about NIA FY 2016 funding (and National Institutes of Health funding in general).

“This past week, we had an exciting surprise from the House Appropriations Labor, HHS Subcommittee,” said Peschin. “Their bill provides $31.2 billion for the NIH, $1.1 billion above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. The bill also includes a more than 25 percent increase for the National Institute on Aging to $1.5 billion and a call for $300 million of that increase to be used for Alzheimer’s disease research.”

This research funding is a wise investment, noted Peschin, but she also cautioned more support will be needed to address the coming impact of an aging population and the expected rise in chronic diseases it will bring.

“We understand that things are tight, but we also know that this funding is the minimum essential to sustain research needed to make progress in attacking the chronic diseases that are driving significant increases in our national health care costs,” she said.

 

 

Friends of the NIA Applauds House Appropriations FY 2016 Bill for NIH Funding

The undersigned organizations made the following joint statement in response to the House Labor, HHS Appropriations Subcommittee FY 2016 bill for the National Institutes of Health (NIH):

Our organizations unite to applaud and thank the House Appropriations Labor, HHS Subcommittee, on its FY 2016 bill for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). We thank Subcommittee Chairman Tom Cole and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro for their leadership on the bill, which includes a $1.1 billion increase for NIH; a more than 25 percent increase for the National Institute on Aging to $1.5 billion; and a call for $300 million of that increase to be used for Alzheimer’s disease research.

Increased investment in preventing, treating or curing chronic diseases of aging is one of the most effective strategies in reducing national spending on health care. The costs of care for Alzheimer’s disease alone are enormous—in 2015 Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias will cost the nation $226 billion, with half the costs borne by Medicare.

The $300 million increase for Alzheimer’s research is a significant step closer to meeting the national goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer’s disease by 2025 set out in the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease.

Our organizations have worked collaboratively to urge that Alzheimer’s and dementia research be a greater national priority. We look forward to continuing to work together, and with Congress and the Administration, to support the funding needed to make the 2025 goal a reality.

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
Cure Alzheimer’s Fund
Friends of the National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Leaders Engaged on Alzheimer’s Disease
USAgainstAlzheimer’s

Briefing on Effects of Marriage, Divorce, and Family Formation on Health & Well-Being/April 17

The Population Association of America and the Association of Population Centers hold a congressional briefing titled “The Vow Factor: Marriage, Divorce, and Family Formation & Their Impact on Health and Well-Being” on April 17, 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the U.S. Capitol Visitor’s Center in Washington, D.C.

Participating experts include:

Moderator:
Isabel Sawhill, Ph.D., The Brookings Institution

Panelists:
Lisa Berkman, Ph.D., Harvard University
Andrew Cherlin, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
Elizabeth Peters, Ph.D., Urban Institute

For more information, please go here.  Note: Please RSVP by April 15.