Murray, Rep. Kennedy Introduce Bill to Advance Research and Treatments for Brain Injury and Disease

Press Release

Murray, Rep. Kennedy Introduce Bill to Advance Research and Treatments for Brain Injury and Disease

Legislation would coordinate and fund life-altering brain research and help streamline approval process for new treatments

This week, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) introduced legislation in the Senate and House to significantly help scientists advance their understanding of the human brain and develop new treatments and cures for the millions of Americans who suffer from neurological diseases, conditions and disorders.

One hundred million Americans - one in three - suffer from some kind of brain or nervous system condition, including Alzheimer's, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, schizophrenia, traumatic brain injury, and post traumatic stress disorder. The combined economic burden of these and other brain illnesses and disorders costs our country over $1 trillion annually.

"Neurological disorders take a terrible toll on victims and their families," Senator Murray said. "Yet despite the number of people who suffer from neurological conditions, we still have only a limited understanding of how the brain works and how best to treat injuries and illnesses."

"Especially with thousands of troops returning home from battle suffering from PTSD and TBI, the time to make a federal commitment to coordinating and funding neurological research is now," Murray continued. "Our service members have risked their lives for our safety, and we owe it to them - and all victims of neurological conditions - to make a concerted investment in research and treatments that will help them cope, and hopefully lead to a cure."

"Millions of Americans suffer from brain-related illnesses and injuries so it is essential that we leverage our nation's efforts to better understand and develop treatments for neurological disorders. While researchers have made great strides in neurosciences, there is still much that is unknown about how this extremely complex organ works," Kennedy said.

"With Mental Health Parity now law, we are moving in the direction of bringing greater attention to brain-related illness," Kennedy continued. "Directing additional Federal resources and coordinating a comprehensive strategy for research of neurological disorders is an investment that will ultimately lead to new discoveries, better treatments, and healthier lifestyles."

Murray and Kennedy's National Neurotechnology Initiative Act of 2009 (S. 586) was introduced Thursday. It would increase funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH); help remove bottlenecks in the system to speed up research; coordinate neurological research across federal agencies by creating a blueprint for neuroscience at NIH; and streamline the FDA approval process for life-changing neurological drugs - without sacrificing safety.

The Act also has economic benefits. It will help create jobs in the emerging field of neurotechnology. And, by developing better treatments, reduce health care costs for everyone.

Murray and Kennedy's effort to invest in neurological research is also being supported in the House by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), and Rep. David Wu (D-OR).

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