U-M Joins Coalition to Increase Funding for Kids' Research

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U-M Joins Coalition to Increase Funding for Kids' Research

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/538645/?sc=dwtn

The University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital is among 10 of the

nation's leading pediatric medical research institutions joining together to

support an innovative new approach to the address the continued

under-funding of federal support for pediatric research.

This new coalition - which has the support of all the major pediatric

research societies - is lining up behind a bill to be introduced this week

by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Sen. " Kit " Bond (R-MO) that

would not only authorize increased funding, but also create a new structure

to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of pediatric disease research.

Although children make up 20 percent of the U.S. population, only 5 percent

of the funding from the National Institutes of Health is allocated for

research on pediatric diseases. Plus, years of flat funding from the NIH is

deterring promising young researchers from entering the field and

threatening the future of Americans' health.

" Many diseases that begin development in childhood including certain cancers

and obesity, can have serious implications well into adulthood, " says

Castle, M.D., chair of the Department of Pediatrics and the Ravitz

Foundation Professor of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases at the

University of Michigan Health System. " Without increased funding to advance

pediatric research, we'll limit our opportunities for important

breakthroughs in medical research and therapies, and ultimately impair the

overall health of our communities. "

The U-M Department of Pediatrics at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital is a major

contributor in the effort to better understand the basic mechanisms involved

in pediatric health and disease. Its researchers have improved outcomes for

childhood cancer, led to better treatment for premature infants with lung

disease, and advanced non-surgical therapy for problems that used to require

open heart operations - and they continue to work to translate laboratory

breakthroughs into therapies to improve children's health.

While among the leading pediatric research hospitals and departments in the

country for total grants awarded by the NIH, Castle says new funds are

needed to continue to advance pediatric research at Mott, as well as

encourage young scientists in Michigan and across the country to begin new

research.

" We need to be committed to establishing research funds that will create an

infrastructure where brilliant research can occur, and support turning basic

science into clinical advancements. This bill is a step in the right

direction to making that a reality, " Castle says.

" The funding situation is unacceptable for today, and tomorrow, " says Dr.

, chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of

Medicine and Director of Translational Research at Children's Hospital

Boston, a spokesperson for the Coalition.

" Currently there simply isn't enough funding to find cures and better

therapies for children who are suffering right now. In addition, when you

consider the many serious, life-threatening health conditions that affect

millions of adults, like heart disease and diabetes, which have their roots

in childhood, you realize that without a concerted focus on pediatric

research today, the costs of health care in the future will be enormous. "

also noted that " the consequences of inaction are clear - we see

them already today, as children continue to suffer and bright and talented

young researchers are discouraged from entering careers in pediatrics

because of a lack of funding for their work. But we can also envision the

consequences of investment - not only helping ill children, but also making

discoveries that will help advance adult health, particularly adult diseases

with genetic components. "

The bipartisan Pediatric Research Center Establishment Act introduced by

Senators Brown and Bond will help address this situation by amending Title

IV of the Public Health Service Act to authorize NIH to establish up to 20

pediatric research consortia, each funded by a five-year grant of up to $2.5

million per year.

Each individual consortium will be a multi-institution network with one

leading pediatric medical center at the hub, reaching out to and working

with numerous other children's hospitals and health organizations to conduct

basic and translational pediatric research.

This model will maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of NIH resources

that are allocated, as well as creating a wider pool for recruitment of

patients for the clinical trials that will be conducted. There will also be

collaboration and sharing of results among the various consortia, putting an

intense focus on pediatric research and creating lines of communication

across the entire U.S. pediatric research community for the first time.

" Childhood diseases are traumatic to the whole family, " Senator Brown says.

" But we aren't doing enough to prevent diseases and treat childhood

conditions. This bill would better coordinate pediatric research that will

help generations of children overcome numerous devastating diseases and

conditions. "

Senator Bond noted that " investing in pediatric research is necessary to

continue the critical advances we have made in children's health care. This

bill means better health and health care for all children and will give hope

to the doctors, nurses, and families who care for critically ill children. "

The impact of this legislation would be to highly focus the priority status

of pediatric research inside the NIH, said Dr. . " That's why this

new legislation is so important and why it enjoys such broad support among

pediatric institutions and all the major pediatric research societies. "

The pediatric research institutions in the Coalition supporting the

legislation are: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; Children's

Hospital Boston; Childrens Hospital Los Angeles; The Children's Hospital of

Philadelphia; The University of Colorado Denver and The Children's Hospital;

St. Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine;

C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan; s Hopkins

Children's Center and Children's Memorial Medical Center, Chicago.

To learn more about researching taking place within the Department of

Pediatrics at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, visit

http://www.mottchildrenshospital.org.