Department of Defense Appropriations

ALS was included as one of just twenty-eight diseases eligible for the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program in the 2003 fiscal year budget of the Department of Defense Appropriations bill. Researchers have submitted applications, which are currently being reviewed by the DOD. Continued funding for ALS specific research in the 2004 fiscal year budget will allow researchers to continue moving forward towards finding a cause, treatment and eventual cure in regards to environmental factors.

Update: On July 22, 2004 the House and Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations bill, which includes funding for the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). The bill now heads to the President, who is expected to sign it into law soon. The measure provides $50 million for the PRMRP in FY 2005. Importantly, it also recommends ALS as one of just 20 diseases, down from 21 in FY 2004, to be studied under the program. Because the conference report recommends fewer diseases to be studied, the amount of funding allocated for ALS research likely will increase.

This marks the third consecutive year in which funding for ALS was included in the DoD Appropriations bill, a clear indication that Congress recognizes the importance of continued funding for ALS research. During the first year of funding, the PRMRP awarded a $1.1 million grant to Dr. Li Niu at the New York State University at Albany for research into glutamate receptor aptamers and ALS, the first ever ALS-specific research funded by the Department of Defense. Allocation of the FY 2004 funding has not yet been made, but a decision is expected to be announced at the end of this calendar year.

Posted by Editor at February 2, 2005 01:32 PM

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