Research Development Committee

Research Capitol Hill Days Online Resource Center

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons sponsors an annual Research Capitol Hill Days event to promote federal funding of musculoskeletal research. The event gives physicians, researchers, and patients the opportunity to meet with targeted Senators and Congressmen to personally advocate for the future of musculoskeletal care.

The Research Capitol Hill Days program works to raise awareness of the chronic, debilitating, and costly musculoskeletal diseases and disorders afflicting our nation and to request continued support for musculoskeletal research. If Americans are to be freed from the personal, societal, and financial burdens of musculoskeletal conditions, improved treatments and eventual cures must be found.

These innovations will require an investment in both basic science and clinical research. Despite the chronic nature of musculoskeletal conditions, funding for orthopaedic research has grown slowly. While the budget of NIH was doubled over the course of the last decade, the NIAMS budget did not reflect the same level of support and has remained flat until this year. In 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided a $10.4 billion stimulus to the National Institutes of Health.

On March 18-19, 2009, over 70 orthopaedic patients, surgeons, and researchers met with U.S. Senators and Representatives to personally advocate for the future of musculoskeletal care and stress the importance of continued support of research funding during the 2009 Research Capitol Hill Days event. Meetings included members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees. The Orthopaedic community offered Congress its appreciation for the $10.4 billion investment in the NIH as part of the ARRA and requested that Congress continue to build on this investment with predictable and sustained long-term musculoskeletal research funding.

The Research Capitol Hill Days program first involved patient advocates in 2004. Patient participation has grown each year. In 2009, 21 patients and 39 physicians and researchers participated in Research Capitol Hill Days. The 2010 Research Capitol Hill Days is scheduled to take place February 10-11, 2010.

• Research Capitol Hill Days 2009 Meeting Agenda
• 2009 Research Capitol Hill Days Vignette Book
• Fiscal Year 2010 Funding of Musculoskeletal Research
• NIAMS Orthopaedic Community Funding Request
• 2009 Research Capitol Hill Days Press Release Template

News

• Patient Stories Make the Case – (AAOS Now, April 2008)
• Orthopaedic patients, surgeons, researchers take part in Research Capitol Hill Days – (AAOS Now, April 2008)
• Orthopaedic Patients Personalize the Need for Research – (AAOS Now, May 2007)
• Doctors, patients lobby for increases in NIAMS funding – (AAOS Now, May 2007)
• Speaking up for orthopaedics
• Orthopaedic patients tell their stories on the Hill
• Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) Spring/Summer 2005 Newsletter
  (Excerpt): Funding is Key for Advancements in Musculoskeletal Research
• AAOS April 2005 Bulletin Article:
  Research Capitol Hill Days Focus on Funding
• AAOS Newsroom March 2005:
  Funding is Key for Advancements in Musculoskeletal Research. Orthopaedic surgeons, patients, researchers meet with legislators to discuss need for increased funding.
• AAOS February 2005 Bulletin Article:
  AAOS Establishes Patient Advisory Network

Participate in the 2010 Research Capitol Hill Days!

If you are interested in participating in the 2010 Research Capitol Hill Days February 10-11, 2010, please contact Erin L. Ransford, AAOS Medical Research Coordinator, Office of Government Relations at ransford@aaos.org or 847-384-4319 for more information.

Additional Information

• Event Photographs from Research Capitol Hill Days 2008