News from IFFGD

IFFGD on Capitol Hill

(WASHINGTON DC, April 12-13, 2010) Twenty-eight digestive health advocates joined with IFFGD in Washington, DC to visit congressional offices. Along with patients, family members and friends, physicians, and scientists we urged Members of Congress to support 3 critical issues:

Continued Action for Digestive Health

(WASHINGTON DC, January 21, 2010) Over the past 2 weeks IFFGD representatives visited several more Senate and House offices in Washington DC (see our January 8, 2010 post below) seeking support for IFFGD's drafted Congressional Awareness Resolution, and IBS and Functional GI Disorders Research and Treatment Act. Offices visited included Sen. Herb Kohl of WI, Rep. Gwen Moore of the 4th District WI, and Rep. Michael Burgess of the 26th District TX. If you’re a constituent of any of these we’ve recently visited, now is a good time to contact them on behalf of these digestive health issues. 

IFFGD Takes Action for Digestive Health

(WASHINGTON DC, January 8, 2010) This week IFFGD representatives in Washington DC visited two Senate offices, (Sen. McCain of AZ and Sen. Feingold of WI), and one House office (Rep. Tammy Baldwin of the 2nd District WI) to better inform them of the digestive health issues facing patients and families, and the need to support research to improve care and treatment. In particular, we currently are seeking support for a Congressional Awareness Resolution and for the IBS and Functional GI Disorders Research and Treatment Act, both drafted by IFFGD. We will continue to follow-up with these congressional leaders as well as with others on Capitol Hill.

Visit the Advocacy section on our web sites to find out more. For details about these specific issues – and what actions you can take – go to our Legislative Alerts page. 

IFFGD gives Testimony to Congressional Subcommittee about Research Funding Needs

(WASHINGTON DC, May 1, 2009) IFFGD was again honored to be given the opportunity to present testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies regarding the fiscal year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill. The bill covers funding for a broad range of programs and activities affecting the lives of every American, including funding for research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  NIH funding is of vital concern to the digestive disease community.

IFFGD Presents Research Awards

(MILWAUKEE, April 17, 2009) IFFGD honored five investigators from the U.S., Spain, and Canada with research awards. The Awards were presented at the 8th International Symposium on Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Milwaukee, WI. The Awards, ranging from clinical to basic research in adults and children, went to Satish Rao, MD; Emeran Mayer, MD; Javier Santos, MD; Martin Storr, MD; and Miguel Saps, MD. Find out more here: Go »

IFFGD Awards Research Grants

(MILWAUKEE, August 30, 2008) IFFGD awarded competitive Grants in the amounts of $50,000 each to three investigators. Their research is related to functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders, and neurogastroenterology. The primary investigators are Douglas R. Morgan, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Javier Santos, MD, PhD, Senior Staff Physician, Hospital General Universitario Valle de Hebron, Barcelona, Spain; and Miranda A.L. Van Tilburg, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Find out more: Go » 

IFFGD Capitol Hill Day

(WASHINGTON DC, April 1-2, 2008) IFFGD brought together thought leaders in the field if functional GI and motility disorders at IFFGD’s Capitol Hill Day. Participants were briefed on issues and engaged in a day of visits with their members of Congress to inform them of issues affecting the digestive health community and urge support of IFFGD’s legislative priorities. Go » 

Public Policy Forum

(WASHINGTON DC, March 9-10, 2008) Representatives from IFFGD participated in the 18h Annual Public Policy Forum. The Forum was organized by the Digestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC), the leading public policy advocacy organization in the U.S. capitol for persons affected with digestive diseases. IFFGD is a member organization and Nancy Norton is a past Chair of the DDNC.

The event brought together patients, health care providers, industry representatives, lawmakers and their legislative staff for two days of educational programs, legislative updates and advocacy for digestive health issues. Participants from around the country were briefed on Federal health care legislation and policy and provided the opportunity to educate Members of Congress on issues of concern to the digestive disease community.