Effective Advocacy Changes Lives
With leadership and guidance from the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, pulmonary fibrosis patients and supporters from across the country are playing a major role in driving federal policy outcomes. Together, we are on the path to finding a cure, and your support and advocacy is bringing us closer and closer.
- Spending by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute on pulmonary fibrosis research increased from $26,490,331 in fiscal year 2010 to $55,756,802 in fiscal year 2015.
- The number of federal research grants for pulmonary fibrosis research doubled between fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2015.
- Since Congress added pulmonary fibrosis to its list of eligible diseases, the US Department of Defense has awarded $38 million in new research dollars for PF in veterans under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).
Other recent advocacy wins fueled by patient, family, and caregiver advocacy include:
- The Social Security Administration added idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) to its listing of diseases eligible for expedited determination of disability under its Compassionate Allowances Program.
- The Food and Drug Administration has granted “fast track” review status to multiple pulmonary fibrosis drugs.
- The passage of the 21st Century Cures Act authorized a $4.8 billion increase in the National Institutes of Health budget over the following 10 years.
Be an active Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Advocate! Contact your congressional representatives – your Representatives and Senators – or attend one of their Town Hall forums. Ask your officials to support legislation that will enhance pulmonary fibrosis research and quality of life for those with pulmonary fibrosis.