Congress Approves $50 Million in Funding for the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program; ALS Included for 3rd Consecutive Year as a Disease to be Studied

July 29, 2004

The ALS Association is pleased to report that on July 22, 2004 the House and Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations bill, which includes funding for the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP).  The bill now heads to the President, who is expected to sign it into law soon.  The measure provides $50 million for the PRMRP in FY 2005.  Importantly, it also recommends ALS as one of just 20 diseases, down from 21 in FY 2004, to be studied under the program.  Because the conference report recommends fewer diseases to be studied, the amount of funding allocated for ALS research likely will increase. 

This marks the third consecutive year in which funding for ALS was included in the DoD Appropriations bill, a clear indication that Congress recognizes the importance of continued funding for ALS research.  During the first year of funding, the PRMRP awarded a $1.1 million grant to Dr. Li Niu at the New York State University at Albany for research into glutamate receptor aptamers and ALS, the first ever ALS-specific research funded by the Department of Defense.  Allocation of the FY 2004 funding has not yet been made, but a decision is expected to be announced at the end of this calendar year.

The ALS Association would like to thank everyone who took the time to contact their Senators and Representatives in support of this important program.  Thanks also go to those who participated in National ALS Advocacy Day.  Our Congressional meetings clearly had a tremendous impact. 

Inclusion of ALS in the DoD Appropriations bill represents one more victory for ALS patients and their families and demonstrates that The ALS Association truly is lighting the way for a treatment and cure for ALS.