Support the Implementation of the National Institute for Healthy Longevity and Aging Research (NIHLAR)
CONGRESS, THE LONGEVITY SCIENCE CAUCUS (LSC), AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)
On June 14th, Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, proposed significant changes to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This proposal includes a plan to merge the National Institute on Aging (NIA) into a new Dementia Institute, raising concerns within the longevity and geroscience community.
In response, the Alliance for Longevity Initiatives (A4LI) has engaged with the Energy and Commerce Committee to consider the idea of establishing a dedicated institute focused on advancing aging biology research and promoting therapeutic development. We invite you to support our proposal for the creation of the National Institute for Healthy Longevity and Aging Research (NIHLAR).
By signing this petition, you endorse the establishment of NILAR as a distinct entity within the NIH, dedicated to enhancing our understanding of aging and developing therapies to extend healthy lifespans.
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To:
CONGRESS, THE LONGEVITY SCIENCE CAUCUS (LSC), AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)
From:
[Your Name]
We, the undersigned, strongly support the establishment of the National Institute for Healthy Longevity and aging Research (NIHLAR) as proposed by the Alliance for Longevity Initiatives (A4LI).
With Congress considers reforms to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to better serve the needs of Americans, the creation of NIHLAR presents a transformative opportunity to advance the fields of aging biology and geroscience. These fields are critical to developing therapies to delay, prevent, and potentially reverse age-related chronic diseases.
Currently, geroscience research is fragmented across various NIH institutes, limiting progress, accountability, and transparency. Without a centralized institute like NIHLAR, efforts to understand aging and its role in multi-morbidity hinders the development of promising therapies to increase health and wellness for all Americans. NIHLAR would address these gaps by fostering accountability, driving innovation, and promoting collaboration among institutes. This approach aligns with Congress' goals to enhance NIH's transparency, efficiency, and responsiveness.
Supporting NIHLAR supports the NIH's mission to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. It also offers the potential to reduce healthcare costs, increase workforce productivity and strengthen economic stability.
We urge Congress, the Longevity Science Caucus, and the NIH to proritize the establishment of NIHLAR or to integrate its recommendations within the NIH framework. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.