About ASBMR

Partnerships

The Bone Coalition

The National Coalition for Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ("Bone Coalition") is a multi-organization-sponsored advocacy group established in 1991 whose function is to advocate for increased funding for bone research. Groups determining the advocacy goals and funding this activity are the ASBMR, the National Osteoporosis Foundation, the Paget Foundation and the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation. Participating from the ASBMR as Bone Coalition liaison is our Executive Director and members of the staff, along with Advocacy Committee Chair Mark Johnson.

Goals of the Bone Coalition

The goals of the Bone Coalition advocacy efforts are to increase awareness of bone disease, to publicize the profile of the science in skeletal physiology, and to increase specific research funding that results in continued and new science in areas of skeletal research. There are two main bodies which the Bone Coalition addresses:

• The National Institutes of Health, in particular the Institute Directors to increase funding for bone research
• Members of Congress to educate them about the goals of the bone science community and the role of funding bodies

Goals for 2008

• Increase funding for bone and mineral-related research by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Defense; NIH Institutes of focus include:
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• National Institute on Aging
• National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
• National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
• National Cancer Institute
• Further trans-NIH initiatives in bone and mineral research
• Expand training and other grants programs aimed at supporting the careers of young investigators
• Advance the Surgeon General’s Report on Bone Health through the following actions:
  • Interact with the NIH effort to implement a “Bone Research Blueprint” that would encompass at least 14 institutes
  • Through the congressional process — questions at hearings, fact sheets, testimony and report language — promote the research areas of highest priority for the Blueprint
  • Conduct a Capitol Hill Advocacy Day to promote the Research Blueprint, as well as other aspects of the Surgeon General’s report
  • NIH Advisory Councils

Below are documents the Bone Coalition uses to further its goals:

Bone Coalition Fact Sheet
Department of Defense Fact Sheet