On March 10, 60 PFF Advocates met with their members of Congress and congressional staff for PFF Hill Day. Altogether, PFF Advocates participated in over 100 meetings! The participants used these meetings to raise awareness about pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and the need for PF research.

Through these virtual meetings, PFF Advocates from 29 different states — even as far away as Alaska and Hawaii — were able to meet with congressional staff in Washington, D.C. Participants made two requests of congressional offices:

• Include language in the congressional funding reports for the National, Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) on the importance of pulmonary fibrosis research.
• Maintain pulmonary fibrosis as a topic area in the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) at the U.S. Department of Defense

The Foundation prioritized these requests because most federal funding for pulmonary fibrosis research comes through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). The NHLBI funded crucial basic research that led to the approval of two anti-fibrotic medications for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). All research through the PRMRP is peer-reviewed, giving PF patients and caregivers the opportunity to provide input into the program’s priorities for research funding.

The PFF will continue to follow up with congressional offices to ensure that funding for pulmonary fibrosis research remains a priority for federal funding.

Are you interested in communicating with your members of Congress about the need for pulmonary fibrosis research? Learn more and join the PFF Advocates!