Report Backs NIH Changes to Reduce Childhood Chronic Diseases

HHS this week released the Make America Health Again (MAHA) strategy report. The report from the MAHA Commission provides recommendations to the president for policies and strategies to reduce childhood chronic disease, including pediatric cancer. While most of the report focuses on childhood nutrition, the commission provides some recommendations for advancing research and innovation to address chronic disease.

The report includes the recommendation that NIH launch a new chronic disease initiative that will utilize a whole-person approach to research chronic disease prevention. The initiative would leverage existing NIH projects while expanding the use of new approach methodologies (NAMs) and reducing reliance on animal studies. The commission also recommends HHS prioritize research that utilizes AI to uncover causes and identify risk factors for chronic disease early in life and take action to prevent cancer in children and young adults.

In addition to policy recommendations, the commission provided recommendations for restructuring HHS, including creation of the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA) that would lead HHS’ efforts to combat chronic disease. Further, the report recommends NIH develop a new Office of Research Innovations, Planning, and Analysis (ORIPA) that would determine how to prioritize research efforts on specific chronic diseases.

For more information, contact Katie Grady, ACR® Government Affairs Director.