Posts Tagged ‘National Institutes of Health’

NIH to Receive an Almost 1% Increase in 2012

Monday, December 19th, 2011

Small Boost in NIH Funding Appreciated, But More Support is Needed, Says American Heart Association President Gordon Tomaselli

December 16, 2011

“While compromise on Capitol Hill has been a struggle recently, the American Heart Association is encouraged that Congress was able to set aside partisan differences when it came to funding the National Institutes of Health. We hope the Senate follows the House’s lead and approves the omnibus spending legislation that includes a 2012 increase in NIH funding. Although the increase is smaller than we had hoped for, our health, economy and ability to compete globally in the research arena will still benefit from this support.

NIH-funded research helps combat two of the nation’s costliest killers — heart disease and stroke. Research advances have helped control blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and dissolve deadly blood clots to help prevent these diseases. Even more importantly, federally funded NIH research has been directly and dramatically connected to declining death rates for heart disease and stroke.

This critical research also promotes economic development and innovation. In 2010 alone, the NIH helped drive the biomedical research sectors of our economy by supporting nearly half a million jobs. In addition, NIH-funded research often leads to groundbreaking advances that create new technologies, help our nation stay competitive as the world leader in biomedical research and provide future opportunities for talented young investigators. 

In the current economic environment, even small steps in the right direction are appreciated and we are glad that Congress did not cut federal support for research this time. The American Heart Association hopes that in the new year, Congress will make NIH-funded research a priority because it is an investment we must make for the nation’s health and prosperity.”

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AHA Volunteers in Action!

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Recently, AHA You’re the Cure advocate Scott Kneser testified in front of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee about the importance of funding for the National Institutes of Health.
But for Scott, this isn’t just an abstract issue. For Scott, NIH funding and research helped save his life. Scott has a genetic heart condition and in 2005 went to the Mayo Clinic and I had a cardiac procedure called a septal myectomy that was done in order to improve the blood flow to his heart. Doctors implanted a cardiac defibrillator inside Scott. The procedure was possible because of government funding.
Here is some of Scott’s testimony.
“My battle with heart disease began in 1982, when I was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy with Mitral Valve Prolapse and a heart murmur. In layman’s terms, the main pumping chamber of my heart was enlarged and I had a valve that did not close properly. This condition caused blood to leak from my mitral valve and diminished my blood flow, creating a decrease in my activity level.In 2005, I became more symptomatic and experienced increased fatigue during normal activity, like climbing stairs. My doctors determined that I needed a type of surgery called Septal Myomectomy. During this procedure, my surgeon went through my aortic valve and carved out the enlarged section of muscle on my septum, which separates my heart’s chamber, to improve my blood flow.Also, at this time, I had an implanted cardiac defibrillator placed in my chest to regulate my irregular heartbeats that were discovered during an EKG. This amazing device, a result of your investment in the NIH, keeps me alive by regulating my heart beat. If I have more than five consecutive irregular heartbeats, the ICD “shocks” my heart back into a normal rhythm. I can even hold a magnet over my ICD, which uploads data on my heart. This data is transmitted to my cardiologist via the telephone…
Despite these advances, there is no cure for heart disease and stroke. Heart disease remains our Nation’s No. 1 killer and stroke is still the No. 3 cause of death. Thanks to NIH research, there are survivors like me. But, to bring us closer to a cure, it is critical for Congress to increase funding for NIH heart research–now at only 4% of the budget–and stroke research—still at just 1% of the budget.”
You don’t have to travel to Washington DC to be an advocate like Scott- just click this link to send a life saving message to your legislator.

http://www.researchsaveslives.org/takeaction.aspx

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Advocates in Action – March Fly-in Wrap-Up

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Nearly 85 researchers and survivors joined the American Heart Association in Washington, DC, on March 10th for the Research Saves Lives lobby day. The advocates met with 95 Congressional offices, asking key Members of Congress to support increased funding for National Institutes of Health (NIH) heart and stroke research. During the meetings, survivors and caregivers shared personal stories about how medical research saved their lives, while the scientists explained the significance of their research.

You’re the Cure advocates across the country were also invited to participate in the event virtually. By emailing and calling lawmakers and spreading the word on Facebook and Twitter, advocates helped reinforce the message being delivered in person on Capitol Hill. More than 10,600 email messages were sent to Members of Congress in support of increased NIH funding. Facebook and Twitter posts resulted in more than 140,000 impressions, raising awareness about the importance of NIH heart and stroke research.

Check out this video for some highlights from the day!

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You’re the Cure Advocates Take to Capitol Hill

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Last week almost 85 You’re the Cure advocates from Congressional districts across the country came to Washington to share their personal stories with lawmakers and advocate for increased funding for National Institutes of Health (NIH) heart and stroke research. It was a great event for advocates, but what was even more important is that they had 95 meetings with key decision makers to deliver the Research Saves Lives message.


The entire day was energizing and reminded everyone what’s at stake in the search to find a cure for heart disease and stroke. Before heading off to the Hill, advocates had a training session from the AHA Chairman of the Board, Neil Meltzer, and AHA President, Dr. Clyde Yancy. Before heading out for afternoon meetings, advocates heard an inspiring luncheon addresses from Dr. Story Landis, the director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of NIH and Molly Nolan, a heart defect survivor from Texas.

I don’t have to remind you why increasing NIH funding for this research is so critical. Even though heart disease and stroke are the leading killers of Americans, NIH continues to invest only four percent of its budget on heart research and a mere one percent on stroke research. More funding could enable NIH to pursue promising research opportunities that could lead to innovative treatments and prevention strategies and even cures.

We made quite an impact on Capitol Hill, but we still need your help! Please ask your Members of Congress to support increased funding for NIH heart and stroke research.

Want to do even more? Take a minute and re-post this blog entry on your Facebook, Twitter or other social media profiles. Your help in spreading the word within your network will result in additional voices calling for this funding – and we need all we can get!

Thanks again for being a part of You’re the Cure.

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Advocates Help Increase Heart and Stroke Research Funding

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

You’re the Cure advocates also helped to increase funding for the NIH for FY 2010. In the omnibus Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill signed into law on December 16, 2009, the NIH received $31 billion or a 2.3 percent increase. Within that amount for the NIH, the two institutes of particular interest to the AHA, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute received a 2.7 percent increase and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke received a 2.3 percent increase over their FY 2009 funding levels. NHLBI and NINDS conduct the majority of NIH-supported heart and stroke research, respectively.

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AHA Volunteer Leaders Brief National Press on Advocacy Priorities

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

Earlier this week top American Heart Association volunteers briefed members of the media about the Association’s main legislative priorities including objectives for health reform legislation and increased funding for medical research. National reporters attending had a great dialogue with volunteers and in many cases wrote articles for their respective publications noting the work of the American Heart Association.
What was discussed? The group talked about AHA’s objectives for healthcare reform which include effective prevention strategies, adequate and affordable coverage, and changes in treatment that would promote high quality and cost-effective care for heart disease and stroke patients. Research is another important way the association intends to address the cardiovascular crisis that lies ahead. In 2008, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) invested a mere 4% of its budget on heart research and less than 1% on stroke. These disproportionately low levels of funding for the No. 1 and No. 3 causes of death will severely limit efforts to find new ways to prevent heart disease and stroke and reduce death and disability. AHA’s President, Timothy Gardner told reporters that “We have a responsibility to urge lawmakers about the issues that concern our patients, particularly as they confront their health care challenges in this tough economic climate, time is not on our side.” To learn more about the briefing read the press release or check out the article in the Wall Street Journal.
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Stimulating America’s Health

Friday, February 13th, 2009

There is great news about the stimulus package coming out of Congress. It includes $10 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health, money that will support research that could lead to cures for heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. It also contains other provisions important to the American Heart Association including those that will promote health information technology, support prevention programs, extend health insurance for the unemployed, address health disparities and allow for the renovation of school facilities to help address our nation’s childhood obesity epidemic.

You’re the Cure advocates played a vital role in passing this important legislation by sending emails and calling their lawmakers throughout the legislative process. Thanks to you, we are one step closer to our mission of building healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke!

But, this is just the beginning of what we can accomplish through advocacy. The American Heart Association is working to achieve meaningful healthcare reform to address barriers to insurance and quality healthcare for heart and stroke patients. Learn more about our efforts and get involved at www.heartsforhealthcare.org.

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