Wicker introduces incentive bill to encourage breakthroughs for Alzheimer’s research

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) wants to reward innovators in the fight against Alzheimer’s, introducing legislation earlier this week to incentivize public-private collaboration in the fight against the disease and other causes of dementia.

“America has always been the home of groundbreaking innovation,” Wicker said. “We compete to create, build and make a difference in people’s lives. The Ensuring Useful Research Expenditures is Key for Alzheimer’s (EUREKA) Act seeks to channel this pioneering spirit through competition to help us better understand, detect and ultimately cure Alzheimer’s disease. Given today’s budget constraints, it is important to find a way to supplement existing funds to further this critical research.”

The EUREKA Act would not replace other funding and research initiatives for Alzheimer’s, but essentially provides an alternate pathway for medical research breakthroughs.

If signed into law, the bill would reward cash prizes to researchers who meet certain milestones in Alzheimer’s disease drug development. Similar to the Nobel Peace Prize system, the hope is that this concept will help spur innovation and accelerate discovery of a cure or disease-modifying treatment.

The legislation is supported by a number of influential organizations, including the XPRIZE Foundation, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, the Alzheimer’s Association, Eli Lilly and Company, BrightFocus Foundation, and the MIND Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

“We, as a nation, still must work to make Alzheimer’s disease research a national priority and make its funding on par with other major disease states,” Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, said.

The bipartisan measure was co-sponsored by Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Angus King (I-ME) and Brian Schatz (D-HI).