ACR applauds Congress for dedicating $10 million to arthritis research in defense budget
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The American College of Rheumatology applauded Congressional lawmakers for providing a $10 million annual line item for arthritis research in the recently passed $886 billion national defense bill.
According to the ACR, the inclusion marks the first new medical research line item in the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) in 8 years. The U.S. House of Representatives approved the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the fiscal year 2024 on Dec. 14, clearing the way for President Joe Biden to sign it into law.
“Investment in arthritis research will not only benefit those serving in our armed forces, but also the thousands of Americans, including many veterans, living with arthritis,” ACR President Deborah Dyett Desir, MD, said in a press release. “Efforts from this program will not only help curb the costs associated with managing and treating this disease but will also spur innovations and a better understanding of arthritis in the servicemember population.”
The Department of Defense has funded arthritis research at varying levels since 2009 through its Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program. However, because of competing priorities for resources, funding is not always guaranteed, according to the ACR.
Members of the ACR and Arthritis Foundation have lobbied lawmakers for this CDMRP line item to designate specific annual funding for arthritis research regarding risks, outcomes, and treatments among service members, read the ACR press release.
“We know that one in three veterans are diagnosed with arthritis, and it is the second-leading cause of medical dismissals from the military,” Desir said in the release. “This funding is critical to advancing arthritis research and I’m optimistic that we will see the impact and benefits of this investment for years to come.”
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