Research Development Committee

Research Capitol Hill Days Online Resource Center

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons sponsors an annual Research Capitol Hill Days event, promoting federal funding for 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 is working 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. On February 13-14, during the 2008 Research Capitol Hill Days event, more than 115 orthopaedic patients, physicians, and researchers urged Members of Congress to appropriate $548 million in fiscal year (FY) 2009 for NIAMS - a 6.5 percent increase from the FY 2008 level.

The Research Capitol Hill Days program first involved patient advocates in 2004. Patient participation has more than doubled since the program’s inception; 34 patients and over 45 physicians and researchers participated in the 2008 event. Research Capitol Hill Days 2009 will take place March 25-26, 2009.

• Research Capitol Hill Days 2008 Meeting Agenda (PDF 129 Kb)

• 2008 Research Capitol Hill Days Vignette Book (PDF 2.4 Mb)

• Fiscal Year 2009 Funding of Musculoskeletal Research (PDF 113 Kb)

• NIAMS Orthopaedic Community Funding Request (PDF 403 Kb)

• 2008 Research Capitol Hill Days Press Release (PDF 156 Kb)

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.

• The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) Participates in RCH 2005

• AAOS February 2005 Bulletin Article:
AAOS Establishes Patient Advisory Network

Participate in the 2009 Research Capitol Hill Days!

If you are interested in participating in the 2009 Research Capitol Hill Days March 25-26, 2009, please contact Christy M.P. Gilmour, AAOS Manager, Medical Research, Office of Government Relations at gilmour@aaos.org or 847-384-4323 for more information.

Additional Information

• Event Photographs from Research Capitol Hill Days 2008