Key Points
- The American Brain Coalition convenes more than 125 of the United States’ leading professional neurological, psychological, and psychiatric organizations.
- Their mission is to reduce the burden of brain disorders to individuals, families, and society through a variety of advocacy initiatives.
The Foundation has partnered with the American Brain Coalition (ABC), joining a group of more than 125 of the United States’ leading professional neurological, psychological, and psychiatric organizations. The ABC is a nonprofit umbrella organization that serves as a powerful voice for people with brain disorders by uniting organizations that represent concerned patients, families, and professionals.
The ABC was formed in 2000 – then named the One Voice Neurological Coalition – by the American Academy of Neurology and other professional and patient organizations. In 2004, the organization broadened its scope to include all brain disorders. Today, its mission is to reduce the burden of brain disorders to individuals, families, and society.
Advocacy initiatives are central to the ABC’s mission. Its robust advocacy education program provides members with the resources necessary to launch successful advocacy campaigns. The ABC also works closely with the Congressional Neuroscience Caucus, holding briefings to educate the group about the latest developments in neurological disorders and mental illness.
In 2021, the ABC is prioritizing its advocacy efforts to create a Neuroscience Center of Excellence at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This endeavor would encourage innovation in the development and regulation of brain-focused therapeutics using a proven model.
“In recent years, the Foundation has realized some of the greatest barriers to patient access are in the commercialization space, including regulatory and reimbursement challenges,” said Jessica Foley, PhD, who leads the Foundation’s advocacy and government relations efforts. “In response, we’ve ramped up our advocacy efforts, and joining the ABC is a cornerstone of this initiative. Through this relationship, we hope to bolster our current advocacy efforts among government and other key stakeholders to demonstrate focused ultrasound’s immense potential to treat a variety of brain disorders.”