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Alliance Honors Senators T. Cochran, K. Conrad, FDA’s J. Woodcock

Published September 19, 2007

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Alliance for Aging Research Honors Senators Thad Cochran, Kent Conrad, and FDA’s Janet Woodcock for Advancing Healthy Aging

September 19th, 2007, Washington, D.C. – The Alliance for Aging Research, a non-profit organization that promotes scientific and medical research for healthier aging, honored Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Dr. Janet Woodcock of the Food and Drug Administration with awards for advancing healthy aging through research. The Alliance presented the awards at its 14th Annual Bipartisan Congressional Awards Dinner on September 18, 2007, at the Willard Inter-Continental Hotel in Washington, DC.

Senator Cochran received the Connie Mack Award for Advancing Healthy Aging through Research. As Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Cochran wields considerable power on budget issues that impact health and aging programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He is also a member of the bipartisan Congressional Prevention Coalition, formed in 1998 to educate Congress about disease prevention and health promotion strategies. Senator Cochran also has sponsored a number of health-related proposals that benefit older Americans.

Senator Conrad received the Claude Pepper Award for Advancing Healthy Aging through Research. He succeeded in changing Medicare payment rules, which resulted in increased payments to hospitals and providers who serve aging patients in remote areas. By making telemedicine widely available, Senator Conrad has increased patients’ access to cutting-edge medical care leading to earlier diagnoses that often reduce the need for more serious or expensive procedures.

Dr. Janet Woodcock, deputy commissioner & chief medical officer of FDA, was honored as the Indispensable Person of the Year for Health Research for her effective, innovative and ethical leadership of the agency. Dr. Woodcock leads FDA’s “Critical Path” Initiative, which is designed to improve the scientific basis for reviewing and approving new medical products. In addition, she has been the FDA’s point person for strategies to improve drug safety monitoring and for prioritizing Alzheimer’s drug development within the FDA.

The Alliance’s annual awards dinner brings together leaders from Congress, government agencies, private foundations and industry executives, scientists, researchers and consumer groups to celebrate leadership such as that of Senator Cochran, Senator Conrad and Dr. Woodcock, to improve the lives of older Americans.

[Note to editors and reporters: Photos of the honorees are available upon request.]

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Founded in 1986, the Alliance for Aging Research is a nonprofit, independent organization dedicated to improving the health and independence of aging Americans through public and private funding of medical research and geriatric education. The Alliance combines the interest of top scientists, public officials, business executives, and foundation leaders to promote a greater national investment in research and new technologies that will prepare our nation for the coming senior boom, and improve the quality of life for today’s older generation.

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