Senate Approves Increase in Pediatric Illness Research

A bill aimed at improving research into pediatric illnesses — and that includes an amendment authored by Rep. Lois Capps — was approved by the Senate last week and is now awaiting President Obama’s signature. Capps’s National Pediatric Research Network Act, coupled with the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act, would increase research activities, speed up the development of clinical trials, and train new experts in the field. “This bill will increase coordination and improve pediatric research — especially research of rare and complex diseases — while developing new treatments to fight them,” Capps said.