1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

• We need Congress to preserve the NEI. Eliminating this vital agency will have a devastating impact on the advancement of treatments and cures for blinding diseases. • The Foundation Fighting Blindness funds early-stage science, empowering eye researchers to gain millions of dollars of NEI funding to drive the early development of treatments and cures. NEI advancements, in turn, fuel the industry to get sight-saving treatments across the finish line and out to the millions of Americans who need them. • NEI advancements have led to industry development of treatments for AMD, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, inherited retinal diseases, and many other blinding conditions. • The NEI’s innovations will enable American pharmaceutical and biotech companies to stay ahead of global competition, especially researchers in China who are accelerating their biomedical innovation. • The NEI supports vision research through 2,100 research grants made to scientists at more than 150 medical centers, universities, and other institutions. NEI also conducts laboratory and patient-oriented research at its own facilities located on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. • Ensuring NEI is fully funded is a priority to help advance science, treat and cure vision loss, and maintain America’s global leadership.