FAIR NEWSLETTER 

Blockbuster Boston Globe Article on Overestimated Worldwide AIDS Statistics

In a stunning article from the Boston Globe, reporter John Donnelly reports worldwide AIDS infections are now thought to be overestimated by as much as 50%. To view this important Globe report, click here. (If the Globe has taken it off their site, you may view it on our site here.) The FAIR Foundation has been emphasizing for years that only with correct and unbiased statistical reporting can proper emphasis be placed on the diseases that are actually causing the most destruction to patients, both worldwide and in the USA.

Demands for Full Disclosure Produces
NIH Director's Excellent Response

Demands by the House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee and The FAIR Foundation for full accounting of presently allowed payments to NIH top scientists who are alleged to be collecting paychecks and stock options from biomedical firms has produced results. As reported by The Scientist in a revealing story, "NIH officials said that NIH Director Elias Zerhouni has decided to require all NIH employees to disclose the amount of compensation they receive from outside consulting 'as a condition of their employment' with the agency. Current ethics rules do not require employees to submit this information, and Zerhouni risks litigation from employees who might not wish to comply." The FAIR Foundation commends Director Zirhouni for this courageous policy change, which directly reverses the policy instituted by the previous NIH Director, Harold Varmus, MD.

 The FAIR Foundation also calls for similar complete reporting from the Directors and Officers of UNAIDS (United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO). These two organizations have simultaneously been reporting the incorrect statistics referenced in the Globe article (above) while asking the USA for tens of billions of dollars to fight worldwide AIDS. This conflict of interest should not be allowed to continue, and future statistical reporting should come from an independent agency.

Shocking New COPD Statistics

In a newly released 2005 NIH statistical update, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), which is estimated to kill almost eight times the number of Americans killed by AIDS, is receiving only $5 per patient in research compared to $3,084 for each AIDS patient. FAIR's policy proposals will result in significantly greater research allocations for all non-AIDS diseases.

NIH Response to FAIR Criticism

In response to The FAIR Foundation criticism of exorbitant AIDS funding, the NIH has, for the first time ever, felt compelled to justify its spending on its summary sheet of research funding with this quote: "[AIDS research] includes research .....[on] basic science that also benefits a wide spectrum of non-AIDS disease research. (see here--bottom of table) The FAIR Foundation once again stresses its position that all diseases, including the sixteen that kill more Americans than AIDS, do not want to live off the crumbs of AIDS research. They want the NIH studying their diseases with fair and equitable research allocations. The complete and unedited NIH response to FAIR's policies may be viewed here.

Donate to FAIR with a Click:

The FAIR Foundation President and CEO, Dr. Darling, is traveling throughout the USA educating America on the need for change at the NIH. FAIR is also planning TV public service messages featuring members like you describing the unfairness of present NIH policies. These efforts are expensive and we need your help! Please click here and help us change the NIH to insure proper research allocations for your disease of interest. Your donation will be greatly appreciated by all.

Focus Disease:  Cerebral Palsy

•  Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movement and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development; before, during, or shortly after birth; or during infancy.

•  Cerebral palsy is serious: There is no cure.

•  Cerebral palsy causes great suffering: Symptoms of cerebral palsy include difficulty with fine motor tasks such as writing or using scissors, difficulty maintaining balance or walking, involuntary movements. The symptoms differ from person to person and may change over time. Some people with cerebral palsy are also affected by other medical disorders, including seizures or mental impairment,

• Cerebral Palsy is common: It is estimated that some 764,000 children and adults in the United States manifest one or more of the symptoms of cerebral palsy (almost as many as AIDS 950,000). Currently, about 8,000 babies and infants are diagnosed with the condition each year. In addition, some 1,200 - 1,500 preschool age children are recognized each year to have cerebral palsy

• Fairness? The NIH is spending only $18 million dollars on Cerebral palsy in research in 2005 versus $2.9 Billion for HIV/AIDS

• Cerebral palsy and all other diseases except HIV/AIDS would receive larger research allocations under the FAIR Foundation's policies.

• Facts and statistics from the United Cerebral Palsy Association and the National Institute of Neurological Orders & Stroke.

Join FAIR Today!

Please help us in our efforts to gain fair and equitable NIH distributions for cerebral palsy and ALL diseases by joining free HERE. Member sign-up information is confidential. In addition, please forward this Newsletter on to your associates and friends.

The FAIR Foundation
78629 Bougainvillea Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92211  
E-mail: FAIR@dc.rr.com

FAIR Mission Statement: The FAIR Foundation is dedicated to fair and equitable distribution of research funds by the NIH for all diseases, including the 16 that kill a million more Americans than AIDS. A disease’s mortality rate shall be given emphasis in determining allocations and other secondary factors shall be utilized to insure diseases that cause great suffering but have low mortality rates will also receive significantly increased funding.

FAIR is an acronym for Fair Allocations In Research. FAIR is fair.