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Nikhil
Swaminathan, Scientific American, May 8, 2008
Lawmakers yesterday introduced legislation designed to speed the
development of new, safer therapies for brain and nervous system
disorders and injuries, which affect an estimated 100 million
Americans and costs an estimated $1.3 trillion annually to
treat.
The National Neurotechnology Initiative Act (NNTI), which has
bipartisan support, calls for $200 million in federal funds to
be set aside annually to research potential treatments and to
establish a clearinghouse for information from federal agencies
to help them better coordinate efforts. The lawmakers charge
that a lack of coordination has impeded development of
treatments for brain-related illnesses.
The funds would also go toward coordinating the work of 16
branches within the NIH that study brain-related injuries as
well as to add and train employees at the Food and Drug
Administration, which has been accused of dragging its feet on
drug approvals because it is, among other things, woefully
understaffed.
"Recent discoveries are revolutionizing our understanding of the
human brain, and new uses for these discoveries are emerging
almost every day," said Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) who, along with
Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), introduced the bill in the Senate.
"The current research system for neurological diseases is
disjointed and often limits this life-altering research from
reaching the patients in need."
Researchers applauded the legislation. Zack Lynch, founder and
executive director of the Neurotechnology Industry Organization
(NIO), a recently formed trade association of small companies
and organizations dedicated to brain research, says it has the
potential of tripling the number of new drugs that make it onto
the market by pooling brain- and man-power.
"For a modest investment," he said, "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."
Murray says the measure is particularly crucial now, because
scores of soldiers have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan with
severe head and spinal injuries, as well as post-traumatic
stress disorder.
"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 Rep.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R–Fla.), who co-sponsored the House measure
with Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.). "To not act on this
important issue is to relegate millions of our citizens to
second class status and a lifetime of disabilities."
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions, which is chaired by Kennedy's
father, Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy. In the House,
it is headed to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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