b"Appendix C: Surgeons Research Funding Support Letter 261MadisonAvenue,9thFloor|NewYork,NY10016 261MadisonAvenue,9thFloor|NewYork,NY10016 June 4, 2019 March 25, 2019The Honorable Richard ShelbyThe Honorable Richard Durbin ChairmanThe Honorable Richard Durbin The Honorable Richard Shelby Ranking Member Subcommittee on DefenseSubcommittee on Defense ChairmanRanking Member U.S. Senate Committee on AppropriationsU.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on DefenseSubcommittee on Defense 304 Russell Senate Office Building711 Hart Senate Office Building U.S. Senate Committee on AppropriationsU.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Washington, DC 20510Washington, DC 2051304 Russell Senate Office Building711 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510Washington, DC 20510The Honorable Roy BluntThe Honorable Patty Murray ChairmanRanking Member The Honorable Roy BluntThe Honorable Patty Murray Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Subcommittee on Labor, Health and HumanChairmanRanking Member Services, Education, and Related AgenciesServices, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee on Labor, Health andSubcommittee on Labor, Health and U.S. Senate Committee on AppropriationsU.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Human Services, Education, and Related154 Russell Senate Office Building 260 Russell Senate Office BuildingHuman Services, Education, and Related WashingtonAgencies ton, DC 20510 Agencies, DC 20510WashingU.S. Senate Committee on AppropriationsU.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Dear Chairmen Shelby and Blunt and Ranking Members Durbin and Murray: 260 Russell Senate Office Building154 Russell Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510Washington, DC 20510 Thank you for your leadership on funding for medical research. On behalf of the lymphatic diseasemedical research community, we ask that you increase funding and improve coordination on lymphaticdisease research, as you work to complete the Senates Labor Health and Human Services (LHHS) and Dear Chairmen Shelby and Blunt and Ranking Members Durbin and Murray: Defense appropriations bills for fiscal year (FY) 2020.Thank you for your sustained commitment to medical research. As surgeons who specialize in Millions of Americans suffer from lymphatic diseases such as lymphedema and lipedema. Lymphatic the treatment and prevention of lymphatic diseases such as lymphedema and lipedema, we diseases are associated with a diminished quality of life (QOL) and life-threatening infections. Cancer hereby state our unwavering support for further collaboration and coordination on important patients who develop lymphedema incur twice the cost in medical expenses as opposed to survivors who research in this area.do not develop lymphedema. Treatments are limited, and there is no cure.Current lymphatic research is leading to clinical applications in the treatment of lymphedema. It is also In brief, millions of Americans suffer from lymphatic diseases such as lymphedema and poised to make a monumental impact on the continuum of lymphatic diseases which includes obesity, lipedema. Lymphatic disorders are associated with a diminished quality of life (QOL), life-diabetes, heart disease, AIDS, Rheumatoid arthritis and cancer metastasis. Recent discoveries point to the threatening infections, and cancer patients who develop lymphedema incur twice the cost in potential impact of lymphatic research on Alzheimers disease and multiple sclerosis. Success in finding medical expenses as opposed to survivors who do not develop lymphedema.There is no cure. breakthroughs to treat and cure these diseases is inexorably tied to the level of funding investment in thisresearch. Current research demonstrates that employing new surgical techniques could significantly reducethe incidence of lymphedema onset in patients undergoing cancer treatment. We need NIH to We request your support for expanding and advancing the lymphatic disease research portfolio at the fund basic research with clinical implications for lymphatic diseases to help guide our surgical NIH. Further, please also include lymphatic diseases as a category eligible for study through the approaches.f Defense's Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). Lymphatic diseases Department o disproportionately affect active duty service members and first responders, as they often arise from trauma, bacterial infections and as complications of cancer treatment. In summary, we request your support for expanding and advancing the lymphatic disease research portfolio at the NIH. Further, please include lymphatic diseases as a category eligiblefor study through the Department of Defense's Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program. Tel(516)625-9675Fax(516)625-9410 EmailLERN@LymphaticNetwork.orgWebwww.LymphaticNetwork.orgAN AMERICAN TRAGEDY 56 625-9675Fax(516)625-9410EmailLERN@LymphaticNetwork.orgWebwww.LymphaticNetwork.orgTel(516)"