IBD Research Bill

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

     This Bill may be cited as the `Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research Bill'

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

     Congress makes the following findings:

(1) Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are serious inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

(2) Crohn's disease may occur in any section of the gastrointestinal tract but is predominately found in the lower part of the small intestine and the large intestine.
Ulcerative colitis is characterized by inflammation and ulceration of the innermost lining of the colon. Complete removal of the colon in patients with ulcerative colitis can potentially allievate and cure symptoms.

(3) Because Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis behave similarly, they are collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease. Both diseases present a variety of symptoms, including severe diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain, fever, and rectal bleeding. There is no known cause of inflammatory bowel disease, or medical cure.

(4) It is estimated that up to 1,400,000 people in the United States suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, 30% of whom are diagnosed during their childhood years.

(5) Children with inflammatory bowel disease miss school activities because of bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain, many adults who had onset of inflammatory bowel disease as children have delayed puberty, impaired growth and never reach their full genetic growth potential.

(6) Inflammatory bowel disease patients are at high risk for developing colorectal cancer.

(7) The total annual medical costs for inflammatory bowel disease patients is estimated at more than $2,000,000,000.

SEC. 3. INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE RESEARCH EXPANSION.

     (a) IN GENERAL   The Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases shall expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities of the Institute with respect to research on inflammatory bowel disease with particular emphasis on the following areas:

(1) Genetic research on susceptibility for inflammatory bowel disease, including the interaction of genetic and environmental factors in the development of the disease.

(2) Research targeted to increase knowledge about the causes and complications of inflammatory bowel disease in children.

(3) Animal model research on inflammatory bowel disease, including genetics in animals.

(4) Clinical inflammatory bowel disease research, including clinical studies and treatment trials.

(5) Expansion of the Institute's Inflammatory Bowel Disease Centers program with a focus on pediatric research.

(6) Other research initiatives identified by the scientific document entitled `Challenges in Inflammatory Bowel Disease' and the Research Agenda for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition entitled "Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease."

     (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

(1) IN GENERAL  For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $75,000,000 in fiscal year 2006, $85,000,000 in fiscal year 2007, and $100,000,000 in fiscal year 2008.

(2) RESERVATION  Of the funds authorized to be appropriated under paragraph (1), not more than 20 percent of such funds shall be reserved to fund the training of qualified health professionals in biomedical research focused on inflammatory bowel disease, including pediatric investigators.

SEC. 4 - "NATIONAL INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE ACTION PLAN"

    (a)   In General - The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  working with the inflammatory bowel disease community, shall no later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit a comprehensive plan to address the burden of inflammatory bowel disease, in both adult and pediatric populations, to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.

(1) Content – The National Inflammatory Bowel Disease Action Plan shall address strategies for determining the true prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in the United States, and the unique demographic characteristics of the patient community through the expansion of appropriate epidemiological activities.   Moreover, the plan shall focus on strategies for increasing awareness about inflammatory bowel disease within the general public and the health care community in order to facilitate more timely and accurate diagnoses.  The Action Plan shall also address mechanisms designed to prevent the progression of the disease and the development of complications, such as colorectal cancer, and other strategies and activities as deemed appropriate.

(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $750,000 in fiscal year 2006.