II 112th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2321 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 19, 2012 Mr. Menendez (for himself and Mr. Akaka) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the expansion, intensification, and coordination of the programs and activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to Tourette syndrome.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Collaborative Academic Research Efforts for Tourette Syndrome Act of 2012.
2.
Programs of the National Institutes of Health relating to Tourette syndrome
Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 409J (42 U.S.C. 284q) the following:
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Expansion, intensification, and coordination of activities with respect to Tourette syndrome
(a)
In general
The Secretary, acting through the Director of NIH, shall expand, intensify, and coordinate the programs and activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to Tourette syndrome. (b)
Data collection
(1)
System
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall develop a system to collect data on Tourette syndrome, including epidemiologic information with respect to the incidence and prevalence of Tourette syndrome in the United States. (2)
Broad and narrow definitions
The data collection system under paragraph (1) shall provide for the collection of primary data on Tourette syndrome, including related data on the various conditions known to be comorbid with Tourette syndrome. (3)
Collection by population and geographical region
The data collection system under paragraph (1) shall provide for the collection of data on the availability of medical and social services for individuals with Tourette syndrome and their families and the disaggregation of such data by population and geographical region. (c)
Centers of Excellence
(1)
In general
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall make awards of grants and contracts to public or nonprofit private entities to pay all or part of the cost of planning, establishing, improving, and providing basic operating support for centers of excellence regarding research on Tourette syndrome. (2)
Research
Each center under paragraph (1) shall conduct basic and clinical research into Tourette syndrome. Such research shall include investigations into the cause, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, control, and treatment of Tourette syndrome. The centers, as a group, shall conduct multidisciplinary research in the fields of developmental neurobiology, psychology, genetics, pharmacology, psychopharmacology, and neuroimaging. (3)
Services for patients
(A)
In general
A center under paragraph (1) may expend amounts provided under such paragraph to carry out a program to make individuals aware of opportunities to participate as subjects in research conducted by the centers. (B)
Referral and costs
A program under subparagraph (A) may, in accordance with such criteria as the Secretary may establish, provide to the subjects described in such subparagraph, referrals for health and other services, and such patient care costs as are required for research. (C)
Availability and access
The extent to which a center can demonstrate availability and access to clinical services shall be considered by the Secretary in decisions about awarding grants to applicants which meet the scientific criteria for funding under this section. (4)
Organization of centers
(A)
In general
A center under paragraph (1) may— (i)use the facilities of a single institution; or (ii)be formed from a consortium of cooperating institutions and patient advocacy groups in order to maximize the scope of the center’s services and geographic coverage. (B)
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible to make facilities so available (as described in subparagraph (A)(i)) or participate in such a consortium (as described in subparagraph (B)), an institution or group shall meet such requirements as the Secretary may prescribe. (5)
Number of centers; duration of support
(A)
In general
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall provide for the establishment of not fewer than 4 and not more than 6 centers under paragraph (1). (B)
Geographical distribution
The Secretary shall— (i)ensure that each of the centers established under paragraph (1) is located in a different region of the United States than the other such centers; and (ii)encourage the formation of such centers from a consortium of entities (as described in paragraph (4)(A)(ii)) covering multiple States. (C)
Duration
Support for a center established under paragraph (1) may be provided under this section for a period of not to exceed 5 years. Such period may be extended for one or more additional periods not exceeding 5 years if the operations of such center have been reviewed by an appropriate technical and scientific peer review group established by the Secretary and if such group has recommended to the Secretary that such period should be extended. (d)
Research on symptomology and treatment
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis for research on— (1)the full range of symptomology within the Tourette syndrome clinical spectrum; and (2)the efficacy of treatment options for particular patient subpopulations. (e)
Funding
Of the amounts made available to carry out the programs and activities of the National Institutes of Health for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall designate a portion of such amounts for carrying out the programs and activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to Tourette syndrome.
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