"The five million Americans with psoriasis have missed out on the historic growth at the National Institutes of Health," said Gail M. Zimmerman, president and CEO of the Psoriasis Foundation. "While the reasons for this are complex, the federal government is apparently spending less than $1 per patient on psoriasis research annually. Given the human costs of psoriasis as well as the more than $2 billion spent annually treating this disease, we are asking Congress to increase the federal commitment to psoriasis research."
Psoriasis Foundation members from around the country are in Washington, DC today meeting with dozens of Congressional offices, unveiling the legislative agenda and educating lawmakers about the disease. In addition to urging increased research on psoriasis, the legislative agenda calls for Congressional support for NIH's Autoimmune Diseases Research Plan; for a government effort to increase the number of physicians and scientists treating and studying psoriasis; and for improved patient access to treatments and fair reimbursement rates for these treatments.
"I look forward to meeting with Congressional offices to explain the devastating impact psoriasis can have on people, and the importance of increasing research funding for this disease," said Isabel Esteviz, a Psoriasis Foundation member from Chica
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Contact: Michael Paranzino
mike@psoriasis.org
202-253-4863
National Psoriasis Foundation
17-May-2004