SAMPLE LETTER

Today's Date

Request for support of a Resolution on the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Autoimmune Diseases Research Plan

Dear Senator / Representative:

We finally have a federal research plan on autoimmune disease, one that includes all 80-100 autoimmune diseases and approaches them as an interrelated group. Every NIH institute, other government health agencies, nonprofit autoimmune patient groups, and medical scientific experts from around the country worked together to forge this plan. Now, we need to fund it.

NIH estimates that up to 22 million Americans have an autoimmune disease. In comparison, cancer affects up to 9 million. Yet NIH research funding for autoimmune disease in 2002 came to $538 million compared to $6.2 billion for cancer. Both are important groups of diseases that need our attention, but why would autoimmune disease get so much less?

The Resolution on the NIH Autoimmune Diseases Research Plan expresses the sense of Congress that this plan is important, and we need to find funding to launch it. We must begin to recognize a group of diseases that devastates the lives of 5-8% of our population.

Sjogren's syndrome is one of the most common autoimmune diseases, affecting approximately 4 million Americans, ninety percent of whom are women. Sjogren's can affect any body organ or system, causing debilitating fatigue and pain. It targets moisture-producing glands, leading to severe dry mouth and eyes and affecting our vision and ability to eat and digest food. We desperately need answers, and this plan will lead to better understanding of the autoimmune process and viable treatments.

Autoimmune diseases are genetically and clinically related. Autoimmune diseases tend to run in families, and people often have more than one autoimmune disorder. The NIH Autoimmune Diseases Research Plan calls for information-sharing and coordination of research among different specialists. This plan was mandated by Congress; NIH has completed and released it; and now it's time to recognize its importance and initiate funding. Thank you.

Sincerely,

(Provide your full name and address)

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