 The Digestive Disease National Coalition, the leading public policy advocacy organization in our nation's capital for persons affected with digestive diseases, convened its 18th Annual Public Policy Forum on March 9 - 10 in Washington, DC. Nearly 70 patients, physicians, and industry representatives from across the country converged on our nation's capital to discuss recent advancements in digestive health research and raise awareness amongst legislators.
Participants had the privilege of hearing updates from federal administrators representing the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on research and regulatory matters of interest to the digestive disease community. In addition, some of the country's foremost health policy experts from the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the Alliance for a Stronger FDA, and the Health and Medicine Counsel of Washington (HMCW) held information sessions to brief patients and physicians on current legislative issues pertaining to digestive health.
During the Monday, March 10 segment of the Forum, both first-time advocates and seasoned veterans had the opportunity to meet with their members of Congress. They urged their legislators to support funding for digestive health research, and also cosponsor digestive disease legislation currently pending before Congress. Mainly, advocates were asking for fiscal year 2009 funding levels of $32.2 billion for NIH and $2.1 billion for FDA.
Those individuals participating on March 10 also had the honor of meeting Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) during the DDNC's annual awards luncheon. Senator Johnson has distinguished himself as a champion of digestive health by being a staunch supporter of research funding and also a cosponsor of important hepatitis and inflammatory bowel disease legislation, as well as a champion of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. In addition to speaking candidly with many attendees, Senator Johnson presented remarks which praised the DDNC advocates Congressional outreach and vowed renewed support for federal research initiatives.
(Pictured above) Dr. Peter Banks, DDNC President, presents the DDNC Public Policy Leadership Award to Senator Tim Johnson, left, at the 2008 Public Policy Forum in Washington, DC.
Click to Download the 2008 Public Policy Forum Agenda (Word Doc)
Several of the policy forum speakers' presentations are available for download. Simply click on the links below to access Microsoft PowerPoint files.
Update on the National Commission on Digestive Diseases
Dr. Steven James, Commission Chair
Dr. Maurice Cerulli, Commission Member
Dr. Henry Parkman, Working Group Member
Jane Holt, Commission Member
Federal Agency Officials
Dr. Griffin Rodgers, Director, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Amy Manela, National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable
DDNC Advocacy Issues
Dale Dirks, DDNC Washington Representative
DDNC Policy Briefing
Dr. Donna Griebel, Director, Division of Gastrointestinal Products, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Steven Grossman, Deputy Executive Director for Government Relations and Communications, Alliance for a Stronger FDA
For further information or details about the 2009 DDNC Public Policy Forum, contact the DDNC National Office, (202) 544-7497.
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