UCSF Researcher's MS Grant Named for Pelosi
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) today was named Representative of the Year by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for her work in support of neurological research. Rep. Pelosi is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education which funds much of the nation's top neurological and medical research programs. As Co-chair of the Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, Rep. Pelosi has worked to heighten Congressional awareness of the need for support for biomedical research.
In addition to the award, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has named one of its research grants for Rep. Pelosi. The $330,000 grant is funding the work of Dr. David Mohr of the University of California at San Francisco, who is working on treatment of depression in Multiple Sclerosis patients. "Depression is often an unwanted component of serious illness. Whatever can be done to help people cope with their illness without the additional burden of depression is important to preserving their quality of life," Pelosi said.
"I am honored to receive this award and to continue the battle for the very important funding that makes MS research possible," Pelosi said. Overall funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) increased from $13.6 billion in FY98 to $15.6 billion in FY99. Funding for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS) is up from $779.3 million in FY98 to $903.3 million in FY99.
