House Committee Approves Bill to Expand Department of Defense Research into Brain Cancer

CHICAGO, May 18, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The House Committee on Appropriations today approved legislation that provides for the inclusion of "brain cancer" among the disorders eligible for study by the Department of Defense's (DoD) Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP). This provision was included in the fiscal year 2017 Defense Appropriations Act, and will soon come to the floor of the U.S. House.

"Today's action represents an important step in expanding federal research into brain cancer," stated Elizabeth Wilson, President and CEO of the ABTA. "We are grateful to our Congressional champions who made this happen – particularly Congressman Mike Quigley – and to our advocates who took the time to contact their elected officials in support of this provision.  We also thank the House Appropriations Committee for listening to our community and including this in their annual defense spending bill."

Earlier this year, Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL) initiated a letter that was signed by 28 Republican and Democrat members of the House. The letter called for the inclusion of brain cancer in the PRCRP, a competitive grant program that funds research into cancers and cancer-related disorders. Every year, Congress appropriates funding for the PRCRP through the Defense Appropriations Act, and specifically designates the types of cancers that are eligible for funding.  Eligible cancers include bladder, kidney, liver, skin and stomach cancers. ABTA led the effort to include brain cancer in the PRCRP, and asked Representative Quigley to spearhead this initiative in the House.

A similar request to include brain cancer in the PRCRP is pending before the Senate Appropriations Committee, which has not yet acted on their version of the Defense Appropriations Act. The provision included in the House version must still be approved by the full House and ultimately signed into law before it can go into effect. ABTA will continue to work throughout the year to protect the House language.

"May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month, and I can't think of a better way to commemorate this then creating new research opportunities that can get us closer to new treatments and cures," stated Wilson. "But we still have a long way to go, and our community will continue to stay engaged with their Members of Congress to get this provision signed into law."

About the American Brain Tumor Association

Founded in 1973, the American Brain Tumor Association was first and is the only national advocacy organization committed to funding brain tumor research and providing education and information for all tumor types and all age groups. For more information, visit www.abta.org or call 800-886-ABTA (2282).

Media Contact:
Martha Carlos
773-577-8790
[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150901/262855LOGO

SOURCE American Brain Tumor Association