Lupus Foundation of America Applauds Congressional Action to Expand Lupus Research
Defense Appropriations bill includes $5-million lupus research program
The Lupus Foundation of America praises the Congressional Lupus Caucus Co-Chairs – Rep. Thomas J. Rooney (R-FL), Rep. William Keating (D-MA), Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) – and the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee for passing an appropriations bill that includes a provision for funding a lupus specific research program in the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) at the Department of Defense (DoD).
Today’s vote is the culmination of more than a decade of Lupus Foundation of America-led efforts which gained momentum after the formation of the Congressional Lupus Caucus.
The following statements summarize the importance of this research funding:
Rep. Thomas Rooney: “We originally established the Lupus Caucus as a way to help raise awareness here on Capitol Hill to the 1.5 million Americans who have this unpredictable and sometimes fatal disease. I’m proud that four years later we were able to secure such critical funding to create this lupus-specific medical research program through the Department of Defense. Lupus affects millions – especially women – including those who serve or have served in uniform. I am hopeful that this research will help break down research barriers and bring positive changes to their lives.”
Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson: “It was a pleasure to work with my fellow Congressional Lupus Caucus co-chairs and the Lupus Foundation of America to establish this unprecedented lupus-focused program at the Department of Defense. It is clear that research projects in the Department of Defense Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program provide valuable insight to other diseases and lupus must be a part of this advanced research to not only benefit the active duty military personnel affected by lupus, but also the 1.5 million Americans living with lupus.”
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen: “I am no stranger to the hardships that military families face, nor the struggle that individuals with lupus confront in their daily lives. My husband, Dexter, my step-son, Douglas, and his wife, Lindsay, are all veterans, while my step-daughter Katharine was diagnosed with lupus many years ago. These new lupus research funds are urgently needed, and I am confident they will prove to be life-changing for American service members and others living with lupus.”
The Lupus Foundation of America has led efforts to secure new funding for lupus research and education.
“Beginning in 2003, the Foundation pioneered efforts to create a lupus-specific medical research program under the aegis of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, Department of Defense,” said Conrad Gehrmann, Lupus Foundation of America Board Chair. The proposal for a discreet lupus medical research program within the Department of Defense began to gain traction due to interest of the Congressional Lupus Caucus, an entity established by the Foundation in 2012.”
“We applaud the Caucus and members of the House for recognizing the urgent need for a dedicated lupus research program in the Department of Defense and look forward to full Congressional passage soon,” said Gehrmann.
The Foundation testified before the Senate Defense Subcommittee, authoring a white paper – Lupus and the Military, and meeting with CDMRP officials at Fort Detrick. Most recently, the Foundation worked with the Congressional Lupus Caucus to secure signatures for a Dear Colleague letter to establish the Lupus Medical Research Program at the DoD. The letter was well-supported garnering 23 signatures from members of Congress.
Research data indicates that our U.S. servicemen and women may be at high risk for developing lupus and other autoimmune diseases. Factors such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), vaccines, chemical and toxins, ultraviolet light, certain drugs and infectious agents have been associated with the development of lupus and other autoimmune diseases.
“Our warfighters represent many subsets of the population at high risk for developing lupus,” said Sandra C. Raymond, President and CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America. “Our vision is to apply these funds to conduct research on disease risk and prevention in order to identify factors that predict disease progression and then use this information to assess risk in the broader population.”
“We look forward to continuing to work toward increasing federal funding for lupus research and we thank all lupus advocates and organizations for their support,” said Raymond.
The appropriations bill next goes to the full House of Representatives before heading to the Senate for a final vote.
See our timeline for a historical perspective of efforts to get to this critical vote.
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Media Contact: Tracy Cooley, APR, 202-349-1162, cooley@lupus.org
About Lupus
Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body. It is difficult to diagnose, hard to live with and a challenge to treat. Lupus is a cruel mystery because it is hidden from view and undefined, has a range of symptoms, strikes without warning, and has no known cause and no known cure. Its health effects can range from a skin rash to a heart attack. Lupus is debilitating and destructive and can be fatal, yet research on lupus remains underfunded relative to diseases of similar scope and devastation.
About the Lupus Foundation of America
The Lupus Foundation of America is the only national force devoted to solving the mystery of lupus, one of the world’s cruelest, most unpredictable and devastating diseases, while giving caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact. Through a comprehensive program of research, education, and advocacy, the Foundation leads the fight to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus. Learn more about lupus, Lupus Science & Medicine Journal and the Lupus Foundation of America at lupus.org. For the latest news and updates, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.