US Senators Introduce Bill to Accelerate Heart Disease Research
US Senators Thom Tillis and Alex Padilla have introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a new foundation aimed at boosting research into heart disease. ASANA Voices supports the initiative.
U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) have introduced a bill in the Senate to establish the Heart Security Foundation. This new, federally chartered non-profit organization is intended to accelerate cardiovascular research, strengthen prevention and early detection, and improve heart health outcomes for Americans across all backgrounds.
ASANA Voices, which has advocated for the creation of such a foundation, welcomed the introduction of the bill (S.5469, The HEART Foundation Act). Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming nearly one million lives annually. Approximately 120 million American adults suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease, representing nearly a third of the population.
Prince Bhojwani, founder and CEO of ASANA Voices, stated that the HEART Foundation Act offers a framework for incorporating additional resources into cardiovascular research while leveraging the scientific leadership of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He also noted that the work reflects a broader principle: by carefully listening to challenges in diverse communities and rigorously examining evidence, opportunities to improve outcomes nationwide can often be found.
The proposed Heart Security Foundation could support research across the cardiovascular spectrum, including efforts to enhance prevention and early detection, delve deeper into hereditary risks and congenital conditions, and bolster collaboration between federal researchers, universities, and the private sector. The aim is to more effectively translate promising discoveries into practical applications.