Congress provides 20% Increase

[Guest guest]

NEWS Release

Congress provides 20% Increase in Parkinson's Research Funding

Program

Washington, DC. On Thursday, October 10th, the Department of Defense

Appropriations conferees released their appropriations for fiscal

year 2003. This year $21.25 million was provided for the United

States Army's Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Research Program

(NETRP). This is a 20% increase or $4.25 million over fiscal year

2002. This vital program has a dual purpose; to advance research on

causes, diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's and to study factors

to prevent and reduce the risk of military exposure to toxins that

may cause neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease.

As reported earlier, the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee

had allotted $25 million in its version of the bill and in keeping

with tradition; the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee did

not provide funding for this program in their version. The House

voted overwhelmingly to pass this bill last week, while the Senate

has yet to vote on the final bill, it is expected that they will do

so this week. The President has indicated his intention to sign this

bill into law.

" This is wonderful news for the Parkinson's community, " said Joan

son, President. " Chairman , Chairman Inouye, and other

Members of Congress really championed this program and we are very

grateful that they supported this so robustly in a year in which we

may be going to war. "

The NETRP is funded in the Defense bill under a program called the

Medical Advanced Technology, which funds over 34 different research

programs for the Army. The funding for many of these programs was

cut in half or zeroed out in conference. The NETRP received more

funding than any other program under the Medical Advanced Technology

section of the Defense Appropriations bill.

Congress established the NETRP in 1997. To date, the program has

received over $112 million in research funding, awarding over 85

grants in 22 states and 4 foreign counties. The program has had

many significant scientific and methodological breakthroughs

including linking environmental toxins to increased susceptibility

to damage to dopamine neurons and developing imaging software to

measure the brain alterations in Parkinson's.

[Guest guest]

NEWS Release

Congress provides 20% Increase in Parkinson's Research Funding

Program

Washington, DC. On Thursday, October 10th, the Department of Defense

Appropriations conferees released their appropriations for fiscal

year 2003. This year $21.25 million was provided for the United

States Army's Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Research Program

(NETRP). This is a 20% increase or $4.25 million over fiscal year

2002. This vital program has a dual purpose; to advance research on

causes, diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's and to study factors

to prevent and reduce the risk of military exposure to toxins that

may cause neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease.

As reported earlier, the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee

had allotted $25 million in its version of the bill and in keeping

with tradition; the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee did

not provide funding for this program in their version. The House

voted overwhelmingly to pass this bill last week, while the Senate

has yet to vote on the final bill, it is expected that they will do

so this week. The President has indicated his intention to sign this

bill into law.

" This is wonderful news for the Parkinson's community, " said Joan

son, President. " Chairman , Chairman Inouye, and other

Members of Congress really championed this program and we are very

grateful that they supported this so robustly in a year in which we

may be going to war. "

The NETRP is funded in the Defense bill under a program called the

Medical Advanced Technology, which funds over 34 different research

programs for the Army. The funding for many of these programs was

cut in half or zeroed out in conference. The NETRP received more

funding than any other program under the Medical Advanced Technology

section of the Defense Appropriations bill.

Congress established the NETRP in 1997. To date, the program has

received over $112 million in research funding, awarding over 85

grants in 22 states and 4 foreign counties. The program has had

many significant scientific and methodological breakthroughs

including linking environmental toxins to increased susceptibility

to damage to dopamine neurons and developing imaging software to

measure the brain alterations in Parkinson's.