FGIMDs affect individuals of all ages, including children, and these conditions can range in severity from discomforting to life-changing or life-threatening. Most FGIMDs are chronic and require a lifetime of care to manage painful and disabling symptoms. Despite the severity of FGIMDs and the high healthcare costs associated with addressing these conditions, little is understood scientifically and treatment options are extremely limited. This leads to a situation where conditions are often misdiagnosed, mistreated, or under-reported. In addition, the lack of effective treatment options disrupts employment, educational, and social opportunities for patients, forcing some onto disability and leading to substantial lost potential for both the individual and society.

Members of Congress Can Help

Congressional support is needed for the Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act to see that this important legislation is ultimately passed into law. The Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act seeks to advance our scientific understanding of FGIMDs and improve treatment options for patients by:

• Implementing the research recommendations of the National Commission on Digestive Diseases, which are outlined in their recent report, Opportunities and Challenges in Digestive Disease Research: Recommendations of the National Commission on Digestive Diseases, to expand the FGIMDs research portfolio at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. These research recommendations largely focus on improving basic understanding of these conditions and their underlying mechanisms so that both diagnosis and treatment can advance.
• Expanding emerging research activities into pediatric FGIMDs through partnerships with other NIH Institutes and Centers. In addition to being painful, debilitating, and in some cases fatal, many FGIMDs emerge during childhood and persist into adulthood. Being able to accurately diagnose and treat these conditions during childhood can potentially offset a lifetime of suffering and high healthcare expenses.
• Stimulating treatment development by calling on FDA to expand and advance efforts to craft guidance for industry that establishes a formal process for the review, approval, and monitoring of new drugs for the treatment of FGIMDs.

House Representatives — Become a cosponsor of the Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act by contacting Amy Bos in the office of Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. at (202) 225-5101 or amy.bos@mail.house.gov.

Senators — Consider becoming an original cosponsor of the Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act and introducing the legislation in the Senate.