Thanks to advocates taking action nationwide, we are thrilled to report that 17 Members of Congress co-signed this important letter sent to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) this week. The letter applauds NIH’s commitment to sleep and circadian research and requests an update on the current size, scope, direction and strategic vision of the narcolepsy research portfolio across NIH.
“We are extremely grateful to Congressman Adam B. Schiff of California for leading this effort and for the bipartisan support of Members of Congress representing districts across the country,” stated Julie Flygare, J.D., President & CEO of Project Sleep. “This as an incredible testament to the strength and passion of the narcolepsy and sleep communities for raising our voices to make an impact.”
Members of Congress who co-signed this letter include:
- Adam B. Schiff of California
- Susan Davis of California
- Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut
- Lloyd Doggett of Texas
- Daniel Donovan of New York
- Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania
- Denny Heck of Washington
- Jim Himes of Connecticut
- Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia
- Henry “Hank” Johnson, Jr. of Georgia
- Ro Khana of California
- John Lewis of Georgia
- Daniel Lipinski of Illinois
- Zoe Lofgren of California
- Terri Sewell of Alabama
- Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware
- Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona
“Each person who supported this effort deserves to feel extremely proud of the awareness they raised and the difference they are making for the estimated 200,000 Americans with narcolepsy and 3 million people worldwide, including many children,” added Flygare.
“Advancements in our understanding of narcolepsy are urgently needed to improve outcomes for these courageous individuals and their families. By developing novel treatment options and exploring strategies for prevention and early detection, narcolepsy research plays a key role in building a brighter future.”
Special thanks to the Sleep Research Society, the Hypersomnia Foundation, Narcolepsy Network, and Wake Up Narcolepsy for supporting the efforts!
This fantastic news comes at an exciting moment as the community prepares to celebrate Sleep Awareness Week (March 11-17) and Narcolepsy Awareness Day (Saturday, March 10). This weekend, March 9-11, Project Sleep hosts the fourth annual international Sleep In 2018, challenging participants to raise sleep awareness and funds from their beds.
Once NIH provides the requested update to Congress, Project Sleep will report back to the community via our blog and e-mail updates. Please note: if your Member of Congress is not on the letter, it does NOT mean that they are not interested in helping or supporting the community. Sign up here to receive important updates and learn about upcoming opportunities to get involved.
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[…] I described how our advocacy efforts last spring led to a Congressional letter to NIH in support of narcolepsy research with 17 members of Congress signing …, the audience broke into applause! I smiled so big, as it felt amazing that this group appreciated […]