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Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter Named "Health Care Advocate of theYear" By National Psoriasis Patient Group

Posted on: Monday, 12 December 2005, 09:00 CST

KENSINGTON, Md., Dec. 12 /U.S. Newswire/ -- "Psoriasis Cure Now," a national nonprofit patient group that works on behalf of the psoriasis community, today named Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania one of its three "Health Care Advocates of the Year" for 2005. The other recipients are Rep. Ralph Regula of Ohio and Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut.

Sen. Specter and the other recipients were instrumental in putting Congress on record in support of increased federal research for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Psoriasis research funding has traditionally lagged behind other research areas, receiving just $6.5 million last year out of a federal medical research budget at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) approaching $30 billion.

"Sen. Specter's reputation as the foremost supporter of the promise of biomedical research is well-deserved," said Michael Paranzino, president of Psoriasis Cure Now. "As Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee that crafts the budget for the National Institutes of Health, he has led the charge for greater investments in life-saving research, and he was instrumental in including psoriasis among those diseases that merit increased attention. This will speed the search for a cure for the as many as 7.5 million Americans with psoriasis, an estimated 285,000 of whom live in Pennsylvania."

Psoriasis is an incurable, recurring disease of the immune system that can first strike at any age, causing dry, painful skin lesions that can crack, bleed and itch. Many people with psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis, a chronic, progressive and debilitating inflammatory disease that often causes joint pain, stiffness and swelling, as well as bone damage. Studies this year found a higher incidence of autism in children of mothers with psoriasis, and a higher incidence of cardiovascular death among patients with severe psoriasis. People with psoriasis also have higher rates of depression and suicidal ideation. Leading psoriasis researchers at the University of Pennsylvania would be among those who could seek additional grants if the NIH increased psoriasis research funding.

"We are grateful to Sen. Specter and his superb staff for their work on behalf of psoriasis patients across Pennsylvania and nationwide," Paranzino added.

http://www.usnewswire.com

Source: U.S. Newswire

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