500 Health Groups Urge President, Congress to Add More Money to NIH Budget

7/9/2003

From: Eric Bolton of the American Heart Association, 202-785-7900 or ericb@heart.org; Unice Lieberman of the American Cancer Society, 202-661-5711 or Unice.Lieberman@cancer.org; Patrick White of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), 202-321-0643 or pwhite@opa.faseb.org

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Today, 500 health organizations joined together to send a loud and clear message to the President and Congress that the proposed fiscal year (FY) 2004 budget for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) falls dramatically short of what is needed to prevent, detect and treat deadly diseases.

"Proposed funding levels threaten medical research progress," the groups wrote in a letter delivered to the President and Members of Congress on July 9, 2003. "We urge the House and Senate to add more money for the National Institutes of Health. Make saving lives and improving our nation's health a top funding priority."

In addition to the joint letter, the groups will place national advertising and coordinate grassroots activities targeted to Congress as lawmakers vote on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriation bills.

A copy of the letter with signatories follows this release.

------

URGENT HEALTH FUNDING CRISIS

July 9, 2003

Dear President Bush and Members of Congress:

Proposed funding levels threaten medical research progress. We urge the House and Senate to add more money for the National Institutes of Health. Make saving lives and improving our nation's health a top funding priority.

Sincerely, 500 Health Organizations

AAALAC International, AARP, AcademyHealth, Administrators of Internal Medicine, Advanced Medical Technology Association, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, Alliance for Aging Research (AFAR), Alliance for Lupus Research, Alpha 1 Foundation, Alpha 1 Association, Alzheimer's Association, Ambulatory Pediatric Association, America's Blood Centers, American Academy of Dermatology Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Academy of Otolaryngology, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Association for Cancer Research, American Association for Dental Research, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association for Vascular Surgery, American Association of Anatomists, American Association of Blood Banks, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American Association of Immunologists, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Public Health Dentistry, American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, American Cancer Society, American College of Cardiology, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Medical Genetics, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Surgeons, American Dental Association, American Dental Education Association, American Diabetes Association, American Federation for Aging Research, American Foundation for Urologic Disease, American Geriatrics Society, American Heart Association, American Institute for Medical and Biological, Engineering, American Lung Association, American Medical Association, American Neurological Association, American Pediatric Society, American Physical Therapy Association, American Physiological Society, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Society, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, American Society for Clinical Nutrition American Society for Microbiology, American Society for Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, American Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology, American Society for Virology, American Society of Hematology, American Society of Human Genetics, American Society of Hypertension, Inc., American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, American Stroke Association, American Thoracic Society, American Tinnitus Association, American Urological Association, Americans for Medical Progress, Amgen, Inc., Assoc. of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Neurobiology Chairpersons, Association for Medical School Pharmacology, Association of Academic Health Centers, Association of American Cancer Institutes, Association of American Medical Colleges, Association of American Universities, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, Association of Anesthesiology Program Directors, Association of Black Cardiologists, Association of Chairs of Departments of Physiology, Association of Clinicians for the Underserved, Association of Community Cancer Centers, Association of Independent Research Institutes, Association of Medical School Microbiology/Immunology Chairs, Association of Minority Health Professions Schools, Association of Professors of Dermatology Association of Professors of Medicine, Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine, Association of Subspecialty Professors, Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Athena Diagnostics, Aurora Economic Development Council, Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Aventis Pharmaceuticals;

Battelle, Baylor College of Dentistry, Baylor College of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine-Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Biotechnology Industry Organization, Boston Biomedical Research Institute, Boston Cure Project, Boston University School of Dental Medicine, Boston University School of Public Health, Breast Health Institute, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Brown Medical School, Buck Institute for Age Research, Burns & Allen Research Institute, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, California Biomedical Research Association, California Institute of Technology, Campaign for Medical Research, Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation, Cancer Research Fund of the Damon Runyon-Walter Winchell Foundation, Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, CaP CURE, Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Center for the Advancement of Health, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Charles River Laboratories, Children's Research Institute, Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, Citizens for Public Action on Blood Pressure and Cholesterol, Inc., City of Hope, Cleft Palate Foundation, Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine, Coalition for Blood Disease & Blood Safety Research, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities, University of Colorado System, Colorado Biotechnology Association, Colorado State University, Colorectal Cancer Network, Columbia University, Columbia University School of Dental & Oral Surgery Complient, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals, Connecticut United for Research Excellence, Consortium of Social Science Associations, Conquer Fragile X Foundation, Cooley's Anemia Foundation, Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Council of Scientific Society Presidents, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dartmouth Medical School, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Drexel University, Drexel University College of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, East Tennessee State University, Easter Seals, Eli Lilly and Company, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University-Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Epilepsy Foundation, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, Federation of State Medical Boards, Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School, Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority, Florida Atlantic University Division of Research, Florida State University, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Friends of Cancer Research, Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research, Friends of the National Library of Medicine, Friends of the NIDCR, Friends Research Institute, Inc., GelTex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Georgetown University Medical Center, GlaxoSmithKline, Global Health Council, GMP Companies, Inc., Guillain Barri Syndrome Foundation International, Harbor-UCLA Research and Education Institute;

Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Medical School-Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University School of Dental Medicine, Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, Hereditary Disease Foundation, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Howard University College of Medicine, Human Genome Sciences, Inc., IBM Life Sciences Division, Illinois State University ImmunoGen, Inc., Indiana University, School of Dentistry, Institute of Food Technologists, Intercultural Cancer Council Caucus, International Myeloma Foundation, Iris Alliance Fund, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johnson & Johnson, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Keck School of Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Keystone Symposia on Molecular & Cellular Biology, Kidney Cancer Association, La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology, Lance Armstrong Foundation, Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., Lupus Foundation of Colorado, Inc., Lymphatic Research Foundation, Lymphoma Research Foundation, March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Maternity Center Association, Mayo Foundation, McLaughlin Research Institute, Medical Alley, Medical and Health Research Association of NYC, Medical College of Georgia, Medical College of Wisconsin, Medical Library Association, Medical University of South Carolina, Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, Meharry Medical College School of Medicine, Mended Hearts, Inc., Men's Health Network, Mercer University School of Medicine, Metro Denver Network, Chamber of Commerce, Miami Children's Hospital, Michigan Society for Medical Research, Midwest Nursing Research Society, Morehouse School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine-Asian Pacific, American Medical Student Association, NASPE/Heart Rhythm Society, National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research, National Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and Depression, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations, National Alopecia Areata Foundation, National Asian Women's Health Organization, National Association of State Universities & Land-Grant Colleges, National Black Caucus of State Legislators, National Caucus of Basic Biomedical Science Chairs, National Coalition for Cancer Research, National Coalition for Heart and Stroke Research, National Committee for Quality Health Care National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias, National Health Council, National Hemophilia Foundation, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, National Marfan Foundation, National Melanoma Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), National Perinatal Association, National Pharmaceutical Council, National Prostate Cancer Coalition, National Stroke Association, Nebraskans for Research, New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research, New Jersey Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Association, New Jersey Dental School, New York Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York University College of Dentistry, New York University School of Medicine NHLBI Constituency Group, North American Vascular Biology Organization, North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Northwest Association for Biomedical Research, Northwestern University, Nova Southeastern University, Novartis Pharmaceuticals;

Ochsner Clinic Foundation, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oral Health America, Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing, Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry, Oregon Research Institute, Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation, Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, Oxford Bioscience Partners, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson's Action Network, Parkinson's Disease Foundation, Partnership for Prevention, Pennsylvania Prostate Cancer Coalition, Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research, Presbyterian Health Foundation, Protarga, Inc., Public Health Foundation, Pulmonary Hypertension Association, Purdue Pharma, L.P., PXE International, Research!America, Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, Rice University Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Scleroderma Research Foundation, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society Sisters Network Inc., Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation, Inc., Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Society for Neuroscience, Society for Pediatric Research, Society for Public Health Education, Inc., Society for Research in Child Development, Society for Vascular Surgery, Society for Women's Health Research, Society of Academic Anesthesiology Chairs, Society of Interventional Radiology, South Alabama Medical Science Foundation, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, Spina Bifida Association of America, St. Louis University School of Public Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, State University of New York at Albany, State University of New York at Buffalo, State University of New York at Stony Brook, State University of New York HSC, Brooklyn, Strategic Health Policy International, Inc., Student National Medical Association, Targacept, Inc., Texas A&M University System HSC College of Medicine, The American Society for Cell Biology, The American Society for Nutritional Sciences, The American Society of Human Genetics, The Arc of the United States, The Association of Cleveland Physiologists, The Association of Professors of Medicine, The Biophysical Society, The Blood Center of SE Wisconsin, The Center for Blood Research, The Children's Hospital Foundation Research Institute, The Endocrine Society, The Federation of Behavioral, Psychological & Cognitive Sciences, The Forsyth Institute, The Genetic Alliance, The George Washington University Medical Center, The Gerontological Society of America, The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, The J. David Gladstone Institutes, The Jackson Laboratory, The Johns Hopkins University, The Medical Foundation, Inc., The National Alliance for Hispanic Health, The Ohio State University, The Ohio State University School of Public Health, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, The Protein Society, The Research Institute, Univ. Hospitals of Cleveland, The Rockefeller University, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, The Scientist, The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, The Society for Investigative Dermatology, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, The University of Kansas, The University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, The Whitaker Foundation, The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, Tissue Engineering Society International, Tourette Syndrome Association, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center;

UCLA-School of Public Health, United Ostomy Association, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, University of Arizona, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, University of California, Davis-School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, San Diego, University of California San Francisco Asian American Clinic, University of California San Francisco School of Nursing, University of California, Santa Cruz, University of California, Systemwide, University of California-Berkeley, School of Public Health, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy, University of Colorado System, University of Connecticut Health Center, University of Florida College of Dentistry, University of Florida College of Health Professions, University of Florida College of Medicine, University of Georgia, University of Illinois at Chicago University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, University of Iowa, University of Iowa College of Dentistry, University of Iowa College of Public Health, University of Kansas School of Nursing, University of Kansas Medical Center, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, University of Louisville, University of Louisville School of Dentistry, University of Maryland at Baltimore, University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Nursing, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Public Health, University of Miami, University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, University of Michigan School of Public Health, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Nursing, University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Dentistry, University of Montana School of Pharmacy & Allied Health Sciences, University of Nebraska College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nevada, University of Nevada-Reno, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Public Health, University of North Dakota, University of North Texas Health Science Center, University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester School of Nursing, University of South Carolina, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, School of Public Health, University of South Florida College of Nursing, University of South Florida Office of Research, University of Southern California School of Dentistry, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, University of Vermont College of Medicine, University of Washington Academic Medical Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing, Van Andel Research Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Walther Cancer Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, Wellmark, Inc., West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University School of Dentistry, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, WI Association for Biomedical Research & Education, WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, Yale University School of Medicine, Yale University School of Nursing