WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today praised Senate passage of the “National Pediatric Research Network Act (NPRNA),” which was included as part of S.252. The legislation enables the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to coordinate research findings and more effectively use federal funds to study pediatric diseases.

“Passage of the National Pediatric Research Network Act is a monumental step toward fighting childhood diseases,” Wicker said. “This legislation will fundamentally change how findings on pediatric diseases are shared while equipping researchers with the tools they need to develop better treatment and possible cures for thousands of American children."

The bill was sponsored by Senators Wicker and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. The legislation has been passed by the House and Senate. It now awaits President Obama’s signature.

The legislation includes provisions to:

• Provide the Director of NIH with the ability to create a National Pediatric Research Network in order to more effectively support pediatric research and optimize the use of federal resources;
• Require the dissemination of scientific findings in order to ensure the knowledge gained through taxpayer resources is put to good use in helping find treatments and cures; and,
• Encourage the Director to ensure that awards go to consortia that consider pediatric rare diseases and conduct clinical trials for prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of these rare diseases.