Eating Disorders Coalition Wins Big for Eating Disorders Research

Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee agreed to FY 2013 funding for federally financed health research.  Under the leadership of the Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy and Action (EDC), the funding bill contains a congressional directive "urging the National Institute of Health (NIH) to expand, intensify, and coordinate its research on eating disorders and to examine the possibility of creating collaborative consortia on eating disorders research". This initiative holds out the prospect of attaining two key EDC goals: the first is greater attention to and the coordination of eating disorders research across nine National Institutes of Health who possess active research portfolios in this area; the second is increased support for federal Centers of Excellence in eating disorders research at academic medical centers and universities in the United States.  The EDC drew inspiration for this breakthrough initiative from the research sections of the House and Senate Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders Act (the FREED Act).  

In short, the EDC is committed to an aggressive strategy intended to achieve key policy goals in Washington, D.C. through available legislative and regulatory vehicles.  The EDC has excellent relationships with senior officials at NIMH who we anticipate will be key players in implementing this critical congressional initiative.