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Asbestos Awareness Day - Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation Calls for Commitment to Cure
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Today, recognized by Senate Resolution as "National Asbestos Awareness Day," the
Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation called on the nation to commit to curing the lethal, asbestos-related cancer. Mesothelioma or "meso" has been known since the 40's and its connection to asbestos exposure known since at least the 60's. It kills several thousand Americans each year, its incidence is growing, and dangerous exposures are still occurring. Literally billions of dollars have been sucked from the economy by the transaction costs of asbestos litigation and lobbying over who is to blame and how much should the injured or dead should be "compensated." But -- as MARF points out -- lost in all of this has been a commitment to address the tragedy itself by funding the research needed to develop effective treatments.
Calling now for the rest of the Senate to join with Senator Reid, MARF has launched a petition for federal funding of a National Mesothelioma Research and Treatment Program. The idea, says Hahn, is a private-public partnership. Entirely through private giving, mostly from those tragically affected by the disease, MARF has already funded over $2,000,000 of essential, promising meso research since it began five years ago. Hahn says, "The progress made since then demonstrates that meso is indeed a disease which could be successfully treated. So now we are calling on the federal government to join as a partner in making effective treatment a reality for meso patients."
1 Apr 2005
Source: Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
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