Congress acts Commends JMF

Congress Commends JMF on Medical Research Collaboration

In a packed hearing room, Vicki Modell, co-founder of the Jeffrey Modell Foundation, presented testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health. Prior to her presentation, various members of the Committee offered support and encouragement to the JMF for it's public/private partnership in medical research. Currently, there are six collaborative research grants with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in prominent academic medical centers throughout the United States.

Chairman John Porter (R-IL) described the research collaborations with the NIH as being "on the cutting edge of what I see to be the future of funding of medical research in our country." The Chairman went on to say:"I think 25 to 30 years from now, I would imagine that half the money going into research will come from private foundations, like the one that you've established in memory of your son and will be a very, very important lever to direct research in our country.




		Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee, Rep. John Porter of Illinois and Vicki Modell.


	So you're there at the opening bell and a making a great difference. We very much admire your commitment and your willingness to make a difference in respect to research in this very important area. So thank you for being with us this morning."

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) offered her "Thanks to the JMF for its extraordinary work." She added: "We all hope that our lifetime can yield some important work, some important difference, can affect the lives of others. You have made a powerful difference. I just wanted to express our appreciation. I know that this committee will continue to work in partnership with you so that thousands and thousands of children




		Congresswoman Nita Lowey working with The Modells.


	will have a better life. We thank you, and we thank all of the members of your Foundation."


	In her testimony, Vicki Modell requested an expansion of the research partnership between the JMF and the NIH to include a public awareness campaign on Primary Immune Deficiency Diseases.

She portrayed the collaboration as a "circle" that connects public awareness to physician education, to basic biomedical research, to clinical research, and finally and most importantly, to clinical application. Vicki concluded her remarks by thanking the committee for their expression of encouragement. "Your words this morning really have made it all worthwhile. I won't stop now." As a result of her testimony, the final Appropriations Report language included support for the awareness campaign encouraging the participation of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), The National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)




			Vicki Modell makes an important point!



		Vicki Modell testifying before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health.

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JMF UPDATE is published by the Jeffrey Modell Foundation, Inc., A non-profit Research Foundation. The mission of the JMF includes Research, Physician Education, Patient Support, and Public Awareness. Address all inquiries to the Jeffrey Modell Foundation, Inc., 43 West 47th Street, New York, NY 10036 or call (212) 575-1122. Copyright 2002, The Jeffrey Modell Foundation. All rights reserved.