Advocacy

Advocacy and Public Policy

The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy (FPN) works to support public policies that benefit people with peripheral neuropathy. FPN advocates for federal and state legislation as well as regulatory actions that will eventually benefit PN patients and help ensure funding for further research.

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Our Policy Targets

While priority issues change from year to year, our main focus is increasing federal investment in research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Defense (DoD), in order to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and management of peripheral neuropathy.

Peripheral Neuropathy Research at DoD

In 2020, Congress included “peripheral neuropathy” as an eligible condition for study through a $370 million DoD fund called the “Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP).” This was a direct result of PN nationwide advocacy led by the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy.

2021

In the first year for PN eligibility, the PRMRP received 41 PN applications out of 1,000+ applications for all eligible conditions. Eight of the 41 PN projects received more than $8 million in funding.

2021 PRMRP Awarded Projects

2022

In 2022, three of 28 applications were awarded funding, totaling more than $4.6 million for PN grants.

2022 PRMRP Awarded Projects

2023

In 2023, three applications were awarded funding, totaling more than $3.5 million for PN grants.

2023 PRMRP Awarded Projects

2024

In FY24 PRMRP, PN was renewed for a $370 million fund. Visit eBRAP.org to learn more.

More Information

Deadlines

Please make note of the FY24 award mechanisms and pre-application deadlines:

Clinical Trial Award (No direct cost limit): May 13
Discovery Award ($275,000 maximum): May 6
Impact Award ($2M/$2.6M maximum): May 13
Investigator-Initiated Research Award ($1M maximum): May 6
Lifestyle and Behavioral Health Interventions Award ($3M maximum): May 13
Technology/Therapeutic Development Award ($4M maximum): May 13

Most of the full applications are due May 23, June 6, or August 19, 2024, depending on the grant mechanism.

Learn more about this program, how to apply, and how applications are evaluated from the Electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP)

Background Information

PN’s renewal in PRMRP eligibility allows our research community to apply for federal funding. that supports high-risk, high-reward research that can lead to new therapeutics and treatments.

Every year, Congress determines which conditions are eligible for PRMRP study by listing them in the Senate version of the annual Defense Appropriations Act. Because conditions are not automatically renewed, advocacy is required annually to ensure members of Congress remain supportive.

To learn more about the importance of maintaining the designation of peripheral neuropathy in the PRMRP, download this fact sheet.

Contact your representatives

Because of the importance of this research to the veterans’ community, the request to include peripheral neuropathy in the PRMRP has been endorsed by the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Veterans for Common Sense (pdf link opens in new tab).

How Else Can You Get Involved?

Advocacy is speaking out on issues that you care about or offering your opinion and suggestions for how to improve something to the people who are in control. It is important for policymakers to hear directly from you about your experiences. You can take several steps toward advocating for increased research funding for peripheral neuropathy. Contact your senators today and ask them to ensure that peripheral neuropathy is maintained as an eligible condition in the PRMRP.

Download a Sample Letter