Today, the president signed a bill that increases federal research
funding and takes important steps to better support our nation's care partners.
Through its tireless advocacy work, the Parkinson's community played a role in
the passage of this important law.
Law Bolsters Funding for Research
A critical provision provides funding for the National Neurological
Conditions Surveillance System. This database will capture demographic
information on people living with neurological diseases, which is key to
helping researchers target their work and increase understanding of these
conditions. While it was signed into law in late 2016, the database was never
funded or implemented. But with the passage of this bill, it now can become a
reality. (As the law does not specify which diseases the National Neurological
Conditions Surveillance System will track, the Foundation is working with the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which will house the database, to
push for the inclusion of Parkinson's.)
The law also includes a $2 billion funding increase for the National
Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH is the largest public funder of Parkinson's
research, investing $169 million in the disease in 2017. This funding boost is
key to supporting the foundational research the agency carries out to better
understand, diagnose and treat various health conditions.
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