The FAIR Foundation is dedicated to fair and equitable distributions of Nation Institutes of Health (NIH) research funds for all diseases, including the sixteen that kill more Americans than AIDS.

Points of Interest on NIH Research Allocations per 2005 budget, updated 4/18/05

AIDS deaths from CDC estimated at 18,017 in 2003

Cardiovascular Disease kills 930,000 every year, yet receives over 1/2 Billion less than AIDS

The NIH is spending $3,084 on each citizen estimated as having HIV/AIDS

Diabetes kills more Americans than AIDS and breast cancer combined, yet the NIH spends only $80 on each diabetic

Alzheimer's Disease kills 3.3 times more than AIDS, yet the NIH spends only $155 on each patient with Alzheimer's Disease

Prostate cancer kills 2 times more than AIDS, yet the NIH spends only $150 on each patient with prostate disease

Hepatitis C (HCV) kills 12,000, yet the NIH spends only $25 on each HCV patient

Hepatitis B (HBV) kills 5,000, yet the NIH spends only $32 on each HBV patient

The flu (influenza) on average, now kills almost 2+ times more than AIDS. Flu: $60 million
AIDS: $2.3 Billion

Parkinson's Disease death rate similar to AIDS yet the NIH spends $162 on each patient

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Dis.) = 119,999 deaths in 2000 yet the NIH spends only $5 on each patient

West Nile Virus cases in 2004: 2470 cases and 88 deaths. West Nile Virus research allocation is $17,408 per patient.

Total USA HIV/AIDS budget for 2005 totals just under 20 Billion. 11 Billion for care, cash & housing assistance for patients. Total AIDS Funding since day one: 170 Billion dollars through 2005 (From Henry J Kaiser Foundation)

The infection rate for AIDS throughout the entire world is 1 percent or less except in two countries, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean

SARS: "Current Situation" from the CDC states "there is no known SARS transmission anywhere in the world." Research monies not disclosed by NIH. Press coverage: disproportionate.

Monkeypox cases confirmed in the USA: 37, deaths =0.

Statistical supporting links may be viewed here

Updates on Funding for your Disease of Interest is here.

Please take a moment to view our eminent Board of Directors

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

We appreciate your submitting news stories of interest to FAIR.

Volume 3: Issue 4

FAIR NEWSLETTER: April 2005

If you earn $33,399 or less in CA, free drugs
are now available to treat Hepatitis C (HCV)!
But... only if you also have HIV

The California AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) announced a new program for HIV/HCV co-infected patients who earn under $34,400 to receive free drugs to treat hepatitis C. Other co-infected patients who earn up to $50,000 will receive the medicines for a small co-pay. When will the 4-5 million patients who have HCV but don't have HIV rise up in anger and demand fair and equitable funding for treatment and research? (see facts on HCV vs. HIV/AIDS in left column)

FAIR to Rep. Davis, Chair of the House Committee on HCV: "More research funding is Needed"

FAIR's Founder and CEO, Richard Darling, DDS, and Board member Waldo Concepcion, M.D. request to testify at the next Hearing and call on Representative Davis's Committee on Government Reform to provide more funding for hepatitis C (HCV). They also point out the unfair difference in the funding for HCV versus that for HIV/AIDS. Complete Letter

FAIR to House Committee on Appropriations:
"Reevaluate AIDS allocations based on its
lessened threat to society."

Dr. Darling and Dr. Concepcion continue their efforts by communicating with the House of Representatives and their Appropriations Committee overseeing National Institutes of Health research funding. On behalf of FAIR, Dr. Darling and Dr. Concepcion request that the great success of AIDS researchers and advocates be "recognized with a corresponding change in the allocation priorities of the NIH." Click on the Capitol Building to read the letter.

Accuracy In Media's Editor, Cliff Kincaid,
addresses AIDS favoritism in "Saving Millie"

In his excellent commentary on the recent TV movie "Saving Millie" Accuracy in Media's Editor, Cliff Kincaid, states "Filmmakers and commentators seem to be afraid to stand up to the power of the AIDS lobby." Kincaid shows no such fear in addressing the issue of AIDS favoritism in research funding by our government and writes, "There is something wrong with a system that spends money on diseases in relation to how much attention they get from celebrities and the media." Read his excellent review and references to The FAIR Foundation's efforts here.

Welcome to Any County, USA

What infectious diseases are really affecting communities other than those with high HIV/AIDS populations such as San Francisco, New York City and Palm Springs, We think you'll be surprised as we profile Santa Cruz County in Northern California. Click on the map to get the facts and don't hesitate in sending us similar stories for publication.

FAIR Members' Soapbox Alerts Continue
for All Diseases

FAIR's members are continuing to utilize a free service to contact President Bush and VP Cheney for fair allocations in research, and at the same time they are alerting thousands on the need for change. See a recent "Soapbox Alert" to citizens with various illnesses, including orphan diseases, here and send an alert to President Bush and VP Cheney today!

California Hepatitis C Task Force Honors
FAIR Founder and Diane Silvestre, M.D.

At the annual convention of the California Hepatitis C Task Force, FAIR's Founder Richard Darling, DDS, and Diane Silvestre, M.D. were honored for outstanding service to the citizens of California. FAIR also presented a display booth at the Conference and the following day at the First Annual Sierra Tahoe Hepatitis C Outreach Conference. The booths resulted in many new members joining FAIR. See pictures by clicking the logo.

Focus Disease of the Month: Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

What is Multiple Sclerosis?: MS is thought to be an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS = the brain, spinal cord, and the optic nerves). Surrounding and protecting the nerve fibers of the CNS is a fatty tissue called myelin, which helps nerve fibers conduct electrical impulses. In MS, myelin is lost in multiple areas, leaving scar tissue called sclerosis. Sometimes the nerve fiber itself is damaged or broken. Myelin not only protects nerve fibers, but makes their job possible. When myelin or the nerve fiber is destroyed or damaged, the ability of the nerves to conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain is disrupted. We profile Dr. Cynthia Benz this month. Click on her picture to read of her courageous and moving battle against MS as presented on the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation website.
photo: MS International Federation
Multiple Sclerosis symptoms are many and vary from patient to patient. Symptoms include the following: extreme fatigue, loss of balance and muscle coordination making walking difficult, slurred speech, tremors, stiffness, and bladder problems, dizziness and vertigo, emotional problems, numbness of the face, body, or arms and legs, spasticity, sexual dysfunction, vision and hearing loss, itching, seizures, and tremors.
Multiple Sclerosis cure? There is no cure for MS yet, but disease-modifying drugs such as Rebif, Copaxone, Avonex and Betaseron can help slow the course and/or symptoms in some patients.
Diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis: There is no specific test that can diagnose Multiple Sclerosis. Several tests are needed; to see a description of several of these methods click here.
Multiple Sclerosis and you: MS is not contagious and it is not directly inherited. Women are twice as likely as men to be afflicted by MS.
Do you need emotional support or help with your insurance? Call MS LifeLines™, an educational support service dedicated to you and your MS treatment. This excellent organization and their nurses may be reached toll free at 1-877-447-3243 (Monday through Friday, 8 am to 8 pm ET).
In comparison to other more prevalent diseases like diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis is considered a rare disease with approximately 400,000 acknowledged sufferers. Such diseases would receive significantly larger research allocations under The FAIR Foundation's recommended policies (see 4a here).

You have helped us grow rapidly, but we need more members to change Congress and the NIH. Please encourage new membership by posting this in chat rooms, Blogs, internet support groups, and by forwarding it to your associates, friends and relatives with your recommendation that they join free HERE. With strength in numbers, we WILL achieve fair and equitable NIH distributions for Multiple Sclerosis as well as ALL other diseases.

Multiple Sclerosis statistics and information from National Multiple Sclerosis Society (for their high speed Internet video on MS click here), MS LifeLines, the National Organization for Rare Disorders, National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD) and the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF). Our thanks to Dr. Benz and the MSIF for her profile.

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 government 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.