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2015 National Lupus Advocacy Summit

 

June 15-16, 2015

The 2015 National Lupus Advocacy Summit brought together nearly 200 lupus advocates from across the country to visit Capitol Hill, with thousands more joining virtually to urge members of Congress to support at least $32 billion in research funding for the National Institutes of Health and to elevate lupus on the nation’s health care agenda. Despite the widespread prevalence of lupus, medical research has remained underfunded relative to its scope and devastation. 

As part of the Summit, advocates also called on Congress to support provisions under the 21st Century Cures legislation. The legislation has the potential to improve the drug development process and bring new and vital treatments forward for people with chronic diseases like lupus. Only one drug has ever been developed specifically to treat lupus and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

“We urge everyone to contact their members of Congress and join us in the call to action for increased funding for lupus research and to accelerate the pace of development for lupus treatments,” said Sandra C. Raymond, President and CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America. “The stories of lupus advocates bring to life the daily, devastating impact of this disease and demonstrate the urgent need to elevate lupus to a place of prominence and secure additional funding for lupus research needed to develop an arsenal of treatments for people with lupus.”

National Advocacy Awards Dinner

On June 16, the two-day Summit culminated with the Foundation’s National Advocacy Awards Dinner featuring an exclusive Capitol Conversation on 21st Century Cures moderated by Chuck Todd, host of Meet the Press and NBC News Political Director. Panelists including leaders from Congress, federal agencies, industry and the research community will discuss how to accelerate cures for lupus and other chronic diseases. Award recipients included:

Congressional Champion Award

The Honorable Fred Upton
United States House of Representatives
Chairman, Committee on Energy & Commerce

National Advocacy Leadership Awards

Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD
Director
National Institutes of Health 

Mary Woolley
President & Chief Executive Officer
Research!America

John J. Castellani
President & Chief Executive Officer
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

Susan M. Manzi, MD, MPH
Chair, Department of Medicine
Allegheny Health Network

View the 2015 National Lupus Advocacy Summit program.