Energy and Commerce Cures

 

A path to 21st century cures

Mission

In the 21st century, health care innovation is happening at lightning speed. From the mapping of the human genome to the rise of personalized medicines that are linked to advances in molecular medicine, we have seen constant breakthroughs that are changing the face of disease treatment, management, and cures. Health research is moving quickly, but the federal drug and device approval apparatus is in many ways the relic of another era. We have dedicated scientists and bold leaders at agencies like the NIH and the FDA, but when our laws don’t keep pace with innovation, we all lose.
 
If we want to save more lives and keep this country the leader in medical innovation, we have to make sure there’s not a major gap between the science of cures and the way we regulate these therapies.
 
That is why, for the first time ever, we in Congress are going to take a comprehensive look at what steps we can take to accelerate the pace of cures in America. We are looking at the full arc of this process – from the discovery of clues in basic science, to streamlining the drug and device development process, to unleashing the power of digital medicine and social media at the treatment delivery phase.
 
We know we don’t have all the answers. That’s why we’re asking questions first. We are listening.  We want to know how to close the gaps between advances in scientific knowledge about cures and the regulatory policies created to save more lives.

Over the next several months, members will take a comprehensive look at the full arc of this process - from the discovery to development to delivery - to determine what steps we can take to ensure we are taking full advantage of the advances this country has made in science and technology and use these resources to keep America as the innovation capital of the world.

WATCH Chairman Upton and Rep. Diana DeGette unveil the landmark initiative.

 

White Papers

21st Century Cures: A Call to Action (May 1, 2014)

21st Century Cures: An Update on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology 2012 Report on Propelling Innovation (May 12, 2014)

21st Century Cures--Patients (May 16, 2014)

21st Century Cures: Digital Health Care (June 17, 2014)

Responses From The General Public: First Names A-F, G-Jef, Jen-Ju, K-N, O-Z

Hearings/Forums

21st Century Cures Roundtable (May 6, 2014)

21st Century Cures: The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) Report on Drug Innovation (May 20, 2014)

21st Century Cures: Examining the Role of Incentives in Advancing Treatments and Cures for Patients (June 11, 2014)

21st Century Cures Roundtable: Digital Health Care (June 24, 2014)

21st Century Cures: Modernizing Clinical Trials (July 9, 2014)

21st Century Cures: Incorporating the Patient Perspective (July 11, 2014) 

21st Century Technology for 21st Century Cures (July 17, 2014)

21st Century Cures: Examining Barriers to Ongoing Evidence Development and Communication (July 22, 2014)

21st Century Cures Roundtable on Personalized Medicine (July 23, 2014)

21st Century Cures: Examining the Regulation of Laboratory Developed Tests (September 9, 2014)

21st Century Cures Roundtable (September 10, 2014)

21st Century Cures: Examining Ways to Combat Antibiotic Resistance and Foster New Drug Development (September 19, 2014)

News

Wall Street Journal: Drug Companies Join NIH in Study of Alzheimer's, Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus (February 4, 2014)

U.S. News & World Report: Upton: Curing Disease With a Little Help From Our Friends (March 6, 2014)

Breitbart: Hope Comes to RHOB 2123: Fred Upton Leads a Cure Strategy for the 21st Century (May 9, 2014)

Holland Sentinel: Our View: Bring Drug Approval Process into the 21st Century (May 29, 2014)

Morning Consult: Life Sciences: A New Opportunity for Innovation (June 5, 2014)

Associated Press: New study aims to rapidly test lung cancer (June 17, 2014)

CQ Roll Call: House Energy & Commerce on the #Path2Cures (June 20, 2014)

Morning Consult: We Need 21st Century Clinical Trials to Produce 21st Century Cures (July 9, 2014)

BIOtechNow: Jim Greenwood talks 21st Century Cures with Chairman Fred Upton (July 16, 2014)

Star Tribune: Mayo clinic sees bright future for personalized medicine (July 23, 2014)

Forbes: The Noblest Cause of Our Time: Saving Lives (July 28, 2014)

NJ.com: Lance announces new initiative to accelerate the pace of medical breakthroughs (July 28, 2014)

Reuters PE Hub: Addressing the challenges in medical innovation (August 4, 2014)

Tampa Tribune: Working together (yes!), Congress tries to speed medicine approvals (August 6, 2014)

Tampa Bay Times: Bilirakis Hosts Two Health Care Roundtables (August 14, 2014)

Manhattan Institute for Policy Research: Building A 21st Century Health Care System: Aligning Policy, Accelerating Cures, Delivering Hope (August 14, 2014)

Current in Fishers: Brooks holds health initiative panel (August 19, 2014)

FasterCures: 5 Takeaways from the 21st Century Cures Initiative - Thus Far (August 19, 2014)

Cleveland Plain Dealer: Bipartisan effort to speed medical cures comes to Ohio: Rep. Bob Latta and Rep. Bill Johnson (August 21, 2014)

Parkinson's Action Network: Florida Advocates Participate in 21st Century Cures Roundtable

Lancaster Online: Roundtable Envisions Better Future for U.S. Health Care Innovation (August 29, 2014)

The State Journal-Register: Panelists Call for Faster FDA Approval Process at Congressional Roundtable (September 5, 2014)

The Hill: Biopharma Answers the Call for Cures (September 8, 2014)

Morning Consult: High Tech Town hall Charts Path to Reform Drug Development, Spur Innovation (September 9, 2014)

FasterCures: Young scientists, partnerships and resources among the focus of final 21st Century Cures Initiative roundtable (September 16, 2014)

Denver Post: A (political) Breakthrough on Biomedical Research (September 20, 2014)

Kalamazoo Gazette: Rep. Upton brings 21st Century Cures talks on fostering medical innovation to Kalamazoo (October 7, 2014)

Kalamazoo Gazette: Viewpoint: Discussion, investment crucial in finding cures in Michigan (October 8, 2014)

Popular Mechanics: The 15 Most Innovation-Friendly Members of Congress (October 20, 2014)

Roanoke Times: Rep. Griffith hosts Blacksburg forum to improve health care (October 22, 2014)

FDA Voice: The More We Know About Rare Diseases, the More Likely We Are to Find Safe and Effective Treatments (October 23, 2014)

The Hill: How is the FDA doing on medical device review times? (October 28, 2014)

Fox News: 'Partnering for Cures': Medical innovators team up to treat deadly diseases (November 20, 2014)

National Journal: Cure Hunters (December 5, 2014)

 

Press Releases

A Path to 21st Century Cures (April 30, 2014)

Roundtable and White Paper A Part of 21st Century Cures (May 1, 2014)

A Path to 21st Century Cures Also Creates a Path to a Stronger Economy (May 2, 2014)

Upton and DeGette Begin First Public Conversation About How to Accelerate the #Path2Cures (May 6, 2014)

What They're Saying on Social Media About Inagural 21st Century Cures Roundtable (May 9, 2014)

21st Century Cures Continues Seeking Feedback (May 12, 2014)

Latest White Paper Seeks Input from Patients and Advocates Regarding Gap Between Known Diseases and Available Treatmeants (May 16, 2014)

Health Subcommittee Examines How Incentives Can Be Used to Accelerate #Path2Cures (June 11, 2014)

21st Century Cures: Leveraging Technology to Accelerate the #Path2Cures (June 17, 2014)

Twitter Guide for Next Week's 21st Century Cures Roundtable - All Star Lineup Set for Digital Health Care Discussion (June 19, 2014)

Health Subcommittee Examines Opportunities to Modernize Clinical Trials (July 9, 2014)

FDA and Patient Groups Take Center Stage as Part of Effort to Accelerate #Path2Cures  (July 11, 2014)

Highlights from 21st Century Technology for 21st Century Cures Testimony (July 17, 2014)

Subcommittees Team Up to Learn How 21st Century Technology Can Improve 21st Century Cures (July 17, 2014)

21st Century Cures Roundtable on Personalized Medicine Scheduled for WEDNESDAY (July 18, 2014)

#Path2Cures Requires Collaboration and Transparency (July 22, 2014)

Third Roundtable Examines Personalized Medicine and the #Path2Cures (July 23, 2014) 

Committee Members Take 21st Century Cures From Coast to Coast (July 28, 2014)

Health Subcommitee Chairman Joe Pitts on the #Path2Cures (August 4, 2014)

Bilirakis to Hold #Path2Cures Roundtables in Florida (August 6, 2014) 

The #Path2Cures Conversation Heads to New Jersey, Florida, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Pennsylvania (August 19, 2014)

Following the #Path2Cures Beyond Washington (August 20, 2014)

Nation's Top Public Health Leaders Head to Pennsylvania to Continue the #Path2Cures (August 22, 2014)

#Path2Cures Heads to Ohio Wednesday (August 25, 2014)

Patients, Parkinson's, and the #Path2Cures in Florida (August 26, 2014)

The #Path2Cures - What They're Saying in Beantown (August 27, 2014)

#Path2Cures Proceeds to Pennsylvania TOMORROW (August 28, 2014)

NIH Director on 21st Century Cures: "I expect something good is going to come of this." (September 2, 2014)

Bipartisan 21st Century Cures Initiative Continues in Colorado This Week (September 2, 2014)

The #Path2Cures in Pictures: Pennsylvania Edition (September 3, 2014)

Blockbuster Lineup Set as 21st Century Cures Returns to Washington to Review Ideas Shared on the #Path2Cures (September 4, 2014)

Pitts: Discussing Cures (September 5, 2014)

#Path2Cures Hears from Patients and Families in the Land of Lincoln (September 9, 2014)

Inventor Dean Kamen, Philanthropist Michael Milken, and HHS Secretary Burwell Headline All-Star #Path2Cures Roundtable (September 9, 2014)

#Path2Cures Hearing Reviews FDA Proposal for Regulation of Lab Developed Tests (September 9, 2014)

Support for 21st Century Cures Builds Ahead of #Path2Cures Roundtable TODAY at 10 AM (September 10, 2014)

21st Century Cures Explores Paths to Address Antibiotic Resistance and Encourage New Drug Development (September 19, 2014)

#Path2Cures Continues to Seek Feedback and Build Support (September 22, 2014)

Denver Post Praises Bipartisan #Path2Cures Effort (September 23, 2014)

Upton Brings the #Path2Cures to Michigan (September 30, 2014)

Upton Announces Participants for 21st Century Cures Michigan Roundtable (October 2, 2014)

Follow the #Path2Cures This Week (October 6, 2014)

#Path2Cures in Kalamazoo (October 7, 2014)

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: Praise for the #Path2Cures (October 10, 2014)

Next Stop for the #Path2Cures: Blacksburg, VA (October 20, 2014) 

Popular Mechanics Ranks Upton Among "15 Most Innvation-Friendly" in Congress for #Path2Cures (October 21, 2014)

#Path2Cures in Virginia TODAY and Pennsylvania TOMORROW (October 22, 2014)

Virginians Weigh In On #Path2Cures (October 23, 2014)

Bipartisan #Path2Cures in the Lone Star State (October 29, 2014)

#Path2Cures: "Something we should all celebrate" (October 29, 14)

Bipartisan #Path2Cures Roundtable Takes Texas (November 3, 2014)

Upton: "21st Century Cures is a top priority at the Energy and Commerce Committee..." (November 14, 2014)

Upton and DeGette, Morning Joe, and the #Path2Cures (November 17, 2014)

Research and the #Path2Cures (November 18, 2014)

VIDEO: "Team Work" and the #Path2Cures (November 20, 2014)

What's Next for the #Path2Cures (November 24, 2014)

A Hopeful Team on the #Path2Cures (December 5, 2014)

Connect with Us

The committee is seeking input on this bold new initiative from a wide variety of interested stakeholders.

Engage on social media by liking us on Facebook, Following us on Twitter, and using the hashtag #Path2Cures.

Email the committee using the email address cures@mail.house.gov

21st Century Cures is a truly collaborative effort. Please be advised that submissions sent to cures@mail.house.gov will be made publicly available on energycommerce.house.gov/cures as part of the effort to encourage continued discussion about opportunities and ideas to accelerate the pace of cures. We thank you for participating.