Advocacy Events: 2008
Oral Health Community Gathers in DC
The oral health community gathered in Washington, April 21 – 23, 2008 for a series of events designed to raise the visibility of oral health issues in the nation’s capital. Patient advocacy groups from FNIDCR joined with leaders from the dental research and academic communities to convey a powerful message about the importance of oral health research to our society.
Events Highlight NIDCR Research Initiatives & NIDCR Funding Deficiency
NIDCR hosted a Patient Advocates Forum at NIH on April 21st. There, NIDCR staff updated Patient Advocacy group representatives on the Institute’s intramural and extramural research initiatives. Advances in Genome-wide Association Studies and Salivary Diagnostics in addition to NIDCR’s commitment to reduce and eventually eliminate oral health disparities via the funding of Oral Health Disparities Centers were discussed.
An Advocacy Day Workshop hosted by AADR/ADEA provided the audience with a policy briefing and advocacy training in preparation for meetings with legislators on Capitol Hill the next day. Of keen interest to FNIDCR is ensuring that NIDCR receives the proper level of federal funding.
- Currently, NIDCR is funded at $389 million, or 1.33 percent of NIH’s total budget.
- Most alarming is the fact that as NIH’s budget doubled between 1998 and 2003, NIDCR’s budget decreased 13 percent.
- The recommendation for FY09 is $438 million, or 1.5 percent of NIH’s budget, to fund NIDCR. This level will restore funding that was eroded for the five years between 1998 and 2003.
Research Provides Ability to Invent the Future
NIDCR Director Dr. Lawrence Tabak discussed the topic “Why Research Matters.” In short, through research, one has the ability to invent the future, he offered.
Key Highlights:
- NIDCR Funding:
- Of the $389 million appropriated to NIDCR for FY07 almost 80% ($308 million) goes toward extramural research;
- The extramural research dollars emanating from NIDCR is spent in Congressional Districts - mostly at universities
- Genome-wide Association Studies: NIDCR is supporting the first studies on cleft lip/cleft palate and dental carries. (Click here for Dr. Tabak Q&A)
- Salivary Diagnostics: The promising prospect of using saliva as a diagnostic fluid to identify an emerging disease is an example of the type of cutting-edge research being conducted by NIDCR.
- Microbiome Project: To better understand the role that bacteria, fungi, and other microbes play in human health and disease. There are hundreds of different forms of bacteria found in the mouth. (Click here for the news release).
Friends of NIDCR & Patient Advocates Take Message to the Hill
FNIDCR hosted a “Capitol Hill Day Kickoff” that featured remarks from Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) and Rep. John Linder (R-GA), co-chairs of the Congressional Oral Health Caucus. Rep. Simpson provided insight on the federal budget process for FY09 and prospects for movement of appropriations bills. He is able to draw his expertise from his years of experience on the House Subcommittee for Labor-HHS-Education. (There is hope that the FY09 budget resolution can be reconciled between the Senate and House after Memorial Day recess.) Rep. Linder shared his position on the reauthorization of SCHIP that was debated in the first session of Congress.
FNIDCR patient advocates, some paired with dental researchers or academics, met with Congressional delegations in both chambers of Congress from seven different states. Our members provided background about FNIDCR and its mission, and communicated the significance of making oral health research a priority.
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