Advocacy in Action – Nephrotic Syndrome Research Funding Support Letters March 25, 2016 by Kylie Karley Thank you to all of you who wrote to your Senators and Representatives asking them to support funding for Nephrotic Syndrome and FSGS research! Through your efforts, appropriations letters were sent to relevant subcommittee chairs in the House and Senate encouraging them to increase funding for these diseases. Four Senators signed the Senate letter and 27 Representatives signed the House letter. Background Each year, Congress decides how much federal funding should be applied to medical research activities and provides guidance to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on what conditions legislators are particularly interested in. Recently, Members of Congress have been deciding on the level of NIH funding for fiscal year (FY) 2017 and crafting the accompanying list of research recommendations. As a result of grassroots outreach, the community of individuals affected by glomerular diseases has educated many Member of Congress who have become champions on research and patient care issues. House Letter On behalf of the community, Congressmen Ryan Costello, Ted Deutch, and Alcee Hastings recently circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter on Capitol Hill that voices strong support for advancing research into FSGS and related conditions at NIH. We asked the entire NephCure community to encourage their representatives to sign on to the letter and the response was overwhelming! Click here to see the letter and all 27 signatories. Senate Letter On the Senate side, Senator Debbie Stabenow lead a letter to the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee asking them to include FSGS as a condition eligible for study in the Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program in the Fiscal Year 2017 Defense Appropriations Bill. Click here to read the letter and see the signatories.
NephCure Kidney International and Local NY Teenager Sydney Levine Launch MARCHing to Awareness March 3, 2016 by Lauren Eva FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Information: NephCure Kidney International Erin Russell erussell@nephcure.org NephCure Kidney International and Local NY Teenager Sydney Levine Launch MARCHing to Awareness {Melville, NY, March 2, 2016} – NephCure Kidney International and Sydney Levine, from Melville , NY, will be MARCHing to Awareness for the month of March. Sydney, 15, rang the closing bell at the NYSE yesterday to kick off her month long drive to promnote awareness of chronic kidney disease. Sydney’s brother, Matthew, 12, has Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a rare kidney disease for which there is no cure. MARCHing to Awareness is a campaign aimed at promoting f National Kidney Disease Awareness Month and will target a different activity each day of the month. Yesterday, March 1, Sydney spoke in front of the Suffolk County Legislature and rang the NYSE closing bell. “Academics aside, I wanted to express my admiration for Matthew in the way he conducts himself. In spite of his condition, his positive attitude never waivers. I cannot remember the last time I didn’t see him with a smile on his face. Many kids would use his condition as a crutch or an excuse; he appears to use it as a motivator. I, for one, am inspired by this. I hope this month is just a start to finding a permanent solution to what Matthew and other kids like him are going through,” Chris Regini, Matthew and Sydney’s science teacher. For more information, please visit www.nephcure.org or search #KidneyAwarenessMonth NephCure Kidney International is the only organization committed exclusively to support research seeking the cause of the potentially debilitating kidney disease Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and the diseases that cause Nephrotic Syndrome, improve treatment, and find a cure. ### [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”10″ gal_title=”#KidneyMonthAwareness”]
Advocacy Alert! Ask your Senators to sign FSGS funding letter February 29, 2016 by Kylie Karley Contact both your Senators and ask that they sign on to Senator Debbie Stabenow’s (D-MI) letter supporting the inclusion of “focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)” as condition eligible for study through the Department of Defense Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program during the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 appropriations process (Urgent – Deadline for Signatures is March 11) Background Each year, the United States Senate crafts an annual Department of Defense (DoD) appropriations bill, which includes a list of conditions that are deemed “eligible for study” through the Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). In order for a condition to be included, Senators need to support the condition and officially ask for its inclusion. Senators have many competing appropriations priorities and in order for them to support a condition-specific request, they need to be educated and asked to do so by their constituents. (You) As a result of grassroots outreach, the Senate has recognized FSGS as a condition eligible for study annually for a number of years. This support allows FSGS researchers to compete for nearly $278 million in federal research funding each year. Senators are currently working on the FY 2017 DoD appropriations bill and deciding which conditions will be included on the next PRMRP eligible conditions list. Being included on the list one year is no guarantee of being included again in the next year. At this critical time, please reach out to the offices of your Senators and ask that they “sign on to Senator Debbie Stabenow’s letter supporting the inclusion of “focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)” in the DOD PRMRP’s eligible conditions list for FY 2017.” Click here to read the letter. Take Action Recommended: Copy and paste the email template below, add your info (where prompted) and send it to NKI’s Washington Representative Phil Goglas at goglas@hmcw.org . Phil will forward your e-mail on to the appropriate staff person in your Senators’ offices on your behalf. or Reach out yourself to the Health Legislative Assistant in the Washington, DC, offices of both your U.S. Senators and ask for their support. To identify the contact information for your Senators’ Health LAs, simply go to Senate.gov and select your State. If you call the office (the 202 number), the staff will tell you the name of the Health LA and let you leave a voicemail (you can use the message below as a script). E-mail is more effective, but the receptionist will not likely provide you with the Health LA’s e-mail address. If you would like to e-mail the Health LAs in the offices of your Senators, please contact Phil at goglas@hmcw.org. He will provide you with their name and e-mail address. Congressional deadlines are fast approaching, so you must reach out to your Senators this week (the first week of March) or early next week to have an impact. Email Template Dear Senator ____________, Senator Debbie Stabenow is currently circulating a Senate sign on letter in support continuing to include “Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis” (FSGS) in the list of conditions deemed eligible for study through the Department of Defense Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) during the FY 2017 appropriations process. On behalf of FSGS impacted families across the state, please contact Sam Schuiteman in Senator Stabenow’s office at Sam_Schuiteman@stabenow.senate.gov or 4-4822 to join this important letter by COB Friday, March 11th. FSGS is a rare and devastating kidney disease that is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Nearly 30,000 veterans suffer from ESRD and an additional 3,000 veterans are expected to reach ESRD each year with significant health disparities among African American due to variants of the APOL1 gene. In addition, researchers suggest there are new opportunities for investigating FSGS in the military population with respect to environmental exposures. More needs to be done to improve our understanding of the impact of FSGS among our military personnel and veterans. FSGS has been part of the PRMRP for some time, including FY 2016, and continued participation will lead to further scientific progress. [OPTIONAL: Briefly tell your FSGS story in 2-4 sentences] Thank you for your time and your consideration of this request. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Address]
Your Advocacy Creates Change – Living Donor Protection Act February 26, 2016 by Kylie Karley 2/26/16 – Because of your efforts on Capitol Hill, the Living Donor Protection Act of 2016 was introduced yesterday by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R-TX) in the House, and Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in the Senate. This legislation promotes organ donation and protects the rights of living organ donors. It is made possible in part by YOUR action on Kidney Community Advocacy Day, a joint advocacy event with the support of 16 separate kidney organizations and led by the American Society of Nephrology (ASN).For many patients with kidney failure, a transplant can be the best form of kidney replacement therapy. But today, more people than ever are waiting for this life-saving measure: a patient is added to the kidney transplant wait list every 14 minutes. In 2014, there were 101,168 people on the kidney transplant wait list, but only 5,536 living donor transplants performed that year. The Living Donor Protection Act would increase the number of kidney transplants by eliminating pointless barriers to donation. This bill prohibits insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage and from charging higher premiums for living organ donors. It also clarifies that living organ donors can use Family Medical Leave Act time to recover from donation surgery and maintain job security. This important legislation will allow more Americans to consider living organ donation and help countless people receive the gift of life. NephCure Kidney International strongly supports this bill and joins ASN and the National Kidney Foundation in urging members of Congress to support this bi-partisan legislation. Want to make sure this bill becomes law? Tell your Senators and Representatives why it’s important to you, and urge them to cosponsor it. You can find supplemental documents to send to your congresspeople here.
Be Your Own Best Advocate February 15, 2016 by wpengine Hi, my name is Amanda, I’m an attorney, live in Chicago, and I have FSGS. When I was 26 I began gaining weight unexpectedly and a kidney biopsy a couple weeks later confirmed the diagnosis. Immediately I began steroid treatments, and responded well; however when we attempted to wean off the steroids, the symptoms returned. After another failed round of steroids, I temporarily lost my health insurance and was unable to see a doctor. Fortunately, I was able to eventually obtain insurance and then was quickly admitted to the hospital because the swelling was so extreme. I’ve been on Cyclosporine, Cellcept and now started Prograff and fortunately my kidney function has remained stable. Throughout my treatments, NephCure has been an important resource for me, grateful for the opportunity to interact with other patients and to talk to experts in the field. My friends & family think I am fierce – I won’t let anything stand in my way. Some people assume that a rare disease diagnosis would stop your life in its tracks. But I’ve learned that things that would have caused anger or provoked frustration in the past seem unimportant now. Life is way too short to spend fighting or being upset about the little things. My husband Al and I now spend time advocating, fundraising, and working tirelessly with NephCure to help fund the cure for FSGS. We know what we want and what we all want is a cure! We need more, we want more, and we want to give more. Won’t you join us in this fight? Sincerely, Amanda
2015 Countdown to a Cure – THANK YOU! November 20, 2015 by Lauren Eva We’ve said “hello” and “goodbye” to another Countdown to a Cure… From the beautiful scenery of New York City’s Chelsea Piers, to the heartfelt speeches delivered by NephCure’s beloved family, the Jones’ and honoree, Olympic athlete Aries Merritt, this event was truly the “Chance of a Lifetime” to make a difference in the fight against Nephrotic Syndrome. The success of Countdown has always been measured by the generosity of the many hundreds in attendance who consistently show support for NephCure and this year, our expectations were overwhelmingly exceeded, for which we could not be more grateful. You are changing the story. Energies were high and attendees were excited, lighting the way for one of the most successful galas in NephCure history. “Fund a Cure” donations blew expectations out of the water, bidding was at a high and the second annual game of “heads or tails,” brought a touch of silliness to an evening surrounding a very serious cause. Emcee, Moody McCarthy, along with “Asbury Fever,” a Bruce Springsteen Tribute band, kept the party going all night long with many moments filled with laughter, dancing and mingling. As always, we want to thank the committee who worked so hard to put this event together and the volunteers who generously gave up their time to help this event flourish into a huge success. The 2015 New York Countdown to a Cure raised over $750,000 and many left the event feeling inspired and hopeful. Finally, thanks to YOU. To each of you reading this who’ve decided to join us in this fight. We can’t do this alone. We need you, we’re grateful for you and we thank you.
INSIDE LOOK: 21st Century Cures July 15, 2015 by Kylie Karley What is the 21st Century Cures bill? Co-sponsor of the bill, Fred Upton, describes our current situation as such: patients who need “the next generation of treatments and cures, but they do not have until the next generation to wait.” This bill was designed to update, and effectively, accelerate the drug development process. It is funded by the federal sale of oil from the national reserve. What does this bill actually do? Guarantees 8.75 billion dollars to the National Institute of Health (NIH) AND, 550 million dollars to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the course of the next five years In that regard, 21st Century Cures will be a huge win for the rare disease community by: Ensuring mandatory funding for the NIH Providing funds to the FDA to streamline the clinical trials process Incentivizing the development of “orphan products,” which are medical products intended for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of rare diseases Paving the way for the development of new cures and treatments for the 7,000 rare diseases—including NS—which currently have no approved treatment Now that I know what the bill does, what can I do? The legislative initiative, 21st Century Cures, was passed in the House on July 10, 2015. HOWEVER, our work is not finished. Before this bill can become a reality, it must also pass the Senate. Stay tuned for advocacy alerts from NephCure to see how you can get involved!
Advocacy in Action: More Funding for FSGS Research! June 16, 2015 by Kylie Karley Remember When… Back in January, FSGS was officially added to the list of conditions eligible for research funding through the Department of Defense’s 2015 Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). This opened up a new $247.5 million funding source for FSGS researchers. When NKI and our patient families visited Washington DC earlier this year, we advocated to keep FSGS on the list and to increase the funding available for research. More Good News: Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the 2016 Defense Appropriations budget including $31.2 million in additional funding for the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program. FSGS made the list of eligible conditions again, so if the bill passes without changes, our researchers will have access to $278.7 million in 2016! What’s Next? The bill will have to be passed by the House and Senate and signed by the President before going into effect. We’ll be tracking it and keeping you updated as it moves through the legislative process. Thank You! Increased funding for research and including FSGS on the list of eligible DOD conditions were two of our “Asks” when we visited Capitol Hill. Thank you advocating in person, writing letters and emails, and making phone calls to increase government awareness of Nephrotic Syndrome diseases and the vital role that government funding plays in finding better treatments and cures! Keep it up and stay tuned for more opportunities to be an Advocate!
Q&A With Dyan Bryson from Retrophin May 29, 2015 by Kylie Karley Recently, we got a chance to chat with Dyan Bryson, the Patient Advocacy Director at Retrophin, Inc. – the pharmaceutical company that is sponsoring the DUET study for FSGS patients. We took this opportunity to ask Dyan why clinical research – and the DUET study in particular – is important for Nephrotic Syndrome patients. Keep reading to see our Q&A session with Dyan! NephCure Kidney International: Why do you enjoy/what inspires you about working in the pharmaceutical industry? Dyan Bryson: I first came into this industry thinking I would stay 3 years, that was almost thirty years ago. I simply fell in love with the industry and its potential to help people. I came in rather naively, and at one point I became completely fed up with the lack of focus on patients. I am now back in love as the industry is finally moving towards fulfilling its potential to really help patients, not just support its brands. I love being in an industry where companies that have awakened to putting the patient at the center of its business are also profitable – doing well by doing good. These companies can be examples to others that this can be done. We have realized that we need to support people after they have filled our prescriptions; we have to develop strategies to support their caregivers; we have to support people by realizing that the therapeutic area our drug may be managing is just one of a whole list of things a patient, a person, has to manage in their lives. NKI: What makes participating in DUET a unique opportunity for the NS community? DB: Participating in a clinical trial, especially DUET, is an opportunity to contribute to the knowledge and health of the community. Of course, I am biased, but as a patient advocate I know that if we truly have a drug that can help patients with this rare condition – a condition that has no existing therapy – it can help so many people in the long run. Participation allows us to collect data that may help other people avoid the current long term outcomes of end stage renal disease and transplant. Although we as the drug maker will profit, so will the community through better quality of life. If you participate you can contribute to bettering the health of others. NKI: Why is it so important for rare disease patients and their families to care about research? DB: Many times it is the family of, or person who has, a rare disease that brings that disease to the attention of researchers. Many times if that interaction did not happen there would be no awareness of the disease and, hence, no research. Rare diseases are not like diabetes – researchers, drug companies understand the impact of diabetes. Payers understand the impact diabetes makes on their bottom line as they pay the costs of diabetes management. All stakeholders have clear incentives to manage the disease better. But for a disease where there is low awareness there is little understanding of the impact on a person’s health, hence little understanding of why to do the research. Patients with a rare disease, and their care partners, are the experts on that disease as they manage it 24/7. They are the ones that can drive the understanding of the disease and interest in doing research on that disease like no one else. I still remember the first time that, as a sales representative, my company brought a patient in to talk about the therapeutic area for which we were about to launch a drug. We all had studied and been tested for months to be certified, to confirm we knew the area well enough to talk about it with the physicians we called on. Now, finally, we were at the launch meeting to get our marching orders and celebrate the launch – fun and work at the same time. So, the patient gets on the stage, we had no idea what we are in for. The patient told their story. Soon we were ALL in tears. That one patient helped us understand why were really there. We understood their day-to-day and now we were on a mission to help. Twenty-five years later I can still see that patient on that stage; that experience informs me every single day. That is the impact of a patient telling their story, motivating and inspiring those who can do something about the disease take action. NKI: What is your suggestion for patients that want to learn more and be more involved in clinical research? DB: I know it can be daunting even to think about participating in a clinical trial. You think you are going to be a guinea pig, I understand and so do many others. There is a tidal wave of information out there that can help understand how trials work and help people to understand the process. The US government has even issued grants to researchers all over the country to figure out how to better inform the public about clinical trial participation (http://www.nih.gov/health/clinicaltrials/index.htm) Certainly on the NephCure site (https://nephcure.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Clinical-Research-one-sheet-9162014.pdf) Also, several healthcare advocacy groups have sites that contain materials in several languages to discuss clinical trial involvement: National Minority Quality Forum “Are you in” Campaign – http://www.nih.gov/health/clinicaltrials/index.htm National Medical Association – Project IMPACT – http://www.impact.nmanet.org/about NKI: What do you want a participant to know before they decide to volunteer for a clinical trial? DB: The managers of clinical trials are usually very good about providing access to information about their trial. Scour the site provided, read the materials you are given before you make a decision. Know that the managers of that trial have had to put the trial protocol, all trial materials through a review of a professional board that understands the therapeutic area for which the trial was designed. This board is called an Institutional Review Board (IRB). The purpose of the IRB is to ensure that all human subject research be conducted in accordance with all federal, institutional, and ethical guidelines. This IRB oversees the entire trial, meets at points throughout the trial and makes independent assessments to ensure the safety and well-being of the study participants. In other words, the drug company or other researchers are running the trial with considerable oversight. The study participant is not on their own.
Levine Family is STANDING UP TO BE COUNTED! April 10, 2015 by Lauren Eva The Levine family just took great steps to STAND UP & BE COUNTED. Meeting with the Congressman, they took just another step for the best representation and advocation for those with Nephrotic Syndrome and FSGS. Sydney Levine, who recently started a viral social media campaign with the #SUBCselfie project, caught the attention of the Congressman as well as many famous, powerful voices across the country. As a result of the Levine family, who never stop trying to find ways to beat FSGS for son and brother, Matthew, the right people are becoming aware and joining in the fight. The Congressman will be taking this to appropriations on the hill next week!