Paul Tonko: “My amendment encourages the DOD Medical Research Program to use the most advanced research technology possible when…”

“My amendment encourages the DOD Medical Research Program to use the most advanced research technology possible when researching certain diseases. The DOD Medical Research Program has made great advances in diagnostics relative to breast cancer and prostate cancer, but traditional drug therapies have had limited success. Recent breakthroughs in RNA-based treatments hold the promise of overcoming major limitations of current medicines which are able to target only a limited number of proteins involved in diseased pathways. This would tremendously increase the effectiveness of drug treatments for these devastating illnesses. Over the past several years, scientific and technical breakthroughs have significantly advanced the field of RNA- based therapeutics. Encouraging DOD to use RNA science and technology would make a profound and viable contribution to the eight current medical research programs. Finally, Madam Chair, this new technology can help identify different drug candidates to treat memory deficiencies and memory disorders that are a factor in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, including depression. With the thousands of young men and women returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan who are experiencing PTSD and depression, we must do everything we can to treat these disorders. We owe it to these brave Americans to use every technology that we can to help ease their transition here at home.…”