Bipartisan Group of Senators and Representatives Introduce Bill to Battle Brain-

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Bipartisan Group of Senators and Representatives Introduce Bill to

Battle Brain-Related Illness

Wed, 07 May 2008

Earthtimes (press release) - London,UK*

Author : Neurotechnology Industry Organization

Category : Press Release

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/bipartisan-group-of-senators-

and,384061.shtml

National Neurotechnology Initiative Act seeks to accelerate

development of new treatments for brain and nervous system ailments

SAN FRANCISCO and WASHINGTON, May 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A

bipartisan team of prominent members of both houses of Congress

introduced today the National Neurotechnology Initiative (NNTI) Act,

a bill designed to foster new discoveries and accelerate the

development of new and safer treatments for the one in three

Americans living with a brain-related illness, injury or disease.

Championing the NNTI, Senators Pete V. Domenici (R-NM) and Patty

Murray (D-WA) and Representatives J. Kennedy (D-RI 1st) and

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL 18th) have called upon Congress to reverse

the growing economic burden generated by brain-related illness,

which has reached $1.3 trillion per year in the U.S. due to

healthcare costs and lost income.

" The sheer numbers speak for themselves: There are 100 million

Americans suffering from a brain-related illness, with an enormous

economic burden that continues to grow as the population ages, " said

Zack Lynch, Executive Director of the Neurotechnology Industry

Organization. " For a modest investment, Congress has the opportunity

to streamline research efforts, accelerate the development of new

treatments, promote innovation by small businesses and have a

meaningful impact on the lives of those suffering from devastating

diseases and injuries. "

Designed to increase the speed at which discoveries reach the

market, the NNTI employs targeted increases in funding to improve

Federal research coordination and ease bottlenecks that inhibit the

development of treatments for brain-related illnesses. The bill

accomplishes these goals with less than 4 percent of the total

Federal neuroscience research budget -- $200 million -- and reflects

a more balanced disease-cost to research-dollars-expended ratio.

" With nearly one in three Americans suffering from some kind of

neurological illness, disorder, or injury, I believe it is time we

take a serious look at how we approach and fund research into

neuroscience and neurotechnology, " Senator Domenici said.

" Neuroscience dovetails nicely with the work I have long advocated

for greater research on the brain and nervous system disease and

disorders, particularly in relation to mental health. This new

legislation, I believe, offers an excellent vehicle for us to make

greater advances in this area. "

" While our ability to understand how the brain works grows each day,

our ability to understand and repair brain illnesses remains

limited, " said Senator Murray. " For the millions of Americans that

suffer from a brain-related illness, and the thousands of Americans

coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan with Traumatic Brain Injury

and PTSD, a new federal commitment to research and treatment can't

wait. This bill will place a premium on sharing the information

researchers gain everyday and will support ongoing but underfunded

programs at NIH. "

" With so many Americans suffering from brain-related illnesses, it

is crucial for us as a society to maximize our efforts and continue

learning about the many facets of the brain, leading to a healthier

life for all Americans, " said Congressman Kennedy.

" The time has arrived to offer a serious and comprehensive

legislative approach to help the countless Americans struggling and

living with brain and nervous system illnesses, " said Congresswoman

Ros-Lehtinen. " To not act on this important issue is to relegate

millions of our citizens to second class status and a lifetime of

disabilities. This legislation would develop a comprehensive federal

response to research and treatment for brain related diseases. I

urge my colleagues to join us in this most noble endeavor. "

The National Neurotechnology Initiative is designed to:

-- Facilitate coordination of neuroscience research between the

NIH,

Defense Department, VA and other federal agencies;

-- Coordinate, support, and extend the NIH Blueprint for

Neuroscience

Research;

-- Coordinate and support neuroscience Small Business Innovation

Research

(SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs;

-- Facilitate FDA testing and evaluation of advances in

neuromedicine,

including drugs, diagnostics, and devices; and

-- Coordinate and promote the study of the social, ethical, and

legal

aspects of neurotechnology.

The NNTI plans to distribute $200 million per year in Federal

funding as follows:

National Neurotechnology Coordination Office

-- $5M to create and run a National Neurotechnology Coordination

Office

and advisory council (improves national coordination among

agencies)

National Institutes of Health

-- $80M to fund the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research

(expands basic

neuroscience infrastructure available to 16 NIH Institutes

involved in

the brain and nervous system)

-- $75M to fund neurotechnology-related SBIR and STTR at the NIH

(additional funding beyond current program to accelerate

translational

innovation and small business funding)

Food and Drug Administration

-- $30M for the FDA to increase neuroscience-related staff and to

develop

workshops to develop neurotech standards (increases timeliness

& safety

of neurotech review process)

Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues

-- $10M to develop a research center to conduct studies on the

ethical,

legal and social implications of neurotech (increases national

coordination and industry growth)

About NIO

The Neurotechnology Industry Organization represents companies

involved in neuroscience -- drugs, devices and diagnostics, academic

brain research centers, and patient advocacy groups across the

world. Since NIO's founding in August 2006, over 70 organizations

have joined to " give the brain a voice. " For more information, visit

http://www.neurotechindustry.org/.

Contact:

Zack Lynch

Neurotechnology Industry Organization

Zack@...

415-341-0193

Ross Gillfillan

Feinstein Kean Healthcare

Ross.gillfillan@...

415-677-2804

Neurotechnology Industry Organization