Foundation CEO Provides Expert Testimony to U.S. Senate as Outside Witness on Vision Research Funding
Jason Menzo Urges Robust FY2026 Funding for National Eye Institute and Protection of Its Independent Status
COLUMBIA, Md., June 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Foundation Fighting Blindness, the driving force in the global development of treatments and cures for blinding diseases, today submitted written testimony to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies through its chief executive officer, Jason Menzo, who served as an expert outside witness. In the testimony, Menzo urged the Subcommittee to deliver robust and sustained funding for the National Eye Institute (NEI) in Fiscal Year 2026 and to preserve NEI's status as an independent institute within the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
'NEI is the only federal institute dedicated exclusively to vision research,' said Jason Menzo, CEO of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. 'Its work is restoring sight, advancing precision medicine, and delivering hope to millions of Americans living with retinal diseases. Continued investment is critical to maintaining momentum and achieving breakthroughs for conditions that currently have no cure.'
The Foundation's testimony highlights how NEI-supported research has led to transformative discoveries, including the first FDA-approved gene therapy for an inherited disease, and emphasizes NEI's strategic role in public-private collaborations that accelerate treatment development. The Foundation Fighting Blindness and NEI have long shared a close, collaborative partnership to advance high-impact scientific discovery and bring new treatments to patients faster. Vision loss from diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, and Stargardt disease currently affects tens of millions and costs the U.S. economy an estimated $134.2 billion annually.
The Foundation emphasized that inconsistent funding stalls clinical trials, closes labs, and risks losing top scientific talent—consequences that are difficult and costly to reverse. The testimony also noted that for every dollar invested in NIH-funded research, $2.56 in new economic activity is generated, making this one of the highest-return investments Congress can make.
'We're not just talking about restoring sight—we're talking about protecting America's leadership in biomedical innovation and supporting economic growth in communities nationwide,' added Menzo.
The Foundation Fighting Blindness urges Congress to:
Provide strong, sustained funding for NEI in the FY2026 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill; and
Preserve NEI's status as an independent institute within NIH to ensure focused, strategic investment in vision science.
The full testimony is available at FightingBlindness.org.
About the Foundation Fighting BlindnessEstablished in 1971, the Foundation Fighting Blindness is the world's leading private source of funding for research on retinal degenerative diseases. The Foundation has raised over $954 million toward its mission to prevent, treat, and cure blinding diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and more. Visit FightingBlindness.org for more information.
Media Contacts:Chris AdamsVice President, Marketing & CommunicationsCAdams@FightingBlindness.org(410) 423-0585
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
12 hours ago
- The Star
Father's Day reminder: EcoWaste warns about risky supplements for men
MANILA: Environmental group EcoWaste Coalition has warned the public about sexual enhancement and energy products in sidewalk stalls, Chinese drug stores and online sellers that pose serious health risks to men, as the country celebrates Father's Day. In a statement on Sunday (June 15), the group pointed out that these products lack authorisation for sale and may contain potent ingredients that could have serious side effects, according to health authorities in the Philippines, as well as the United States and Canada. 'Many products that claim to help with sexual enhancement or treat sexual dysfunction – such as male enhancement supplements, erectile dysfunction treatments, male energy pills, and stamina pills – are likely to be contaminated with dangerous hidden ingredients. These contaminated products are a type of medication health fraud,' the EcoWaste said, citing the US Food and Drug Administration. 'These products are sometimes falsely advertised as dietary supplements, food and/or all-natural treatments. They often have multiple positive reviews and/or are being shared through social media. These products pose serious health risks and are not guaranteed to work. They can lead to severe health issues and hospitalisation,' it added. EcoWaste said some of the ingredients of the product should only be consumed under the supervision of a healthcare professional, some of the products also contain contents not included in label, 'such as prescription drugs sildenafil and/or tadalafil possibly at doses exceeding maximum recommended amounts.' Citing the FDA, the group explained that 'sildenafil citrate is a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction in males and is prohibited in food supplements due to potential health risks, particularly for persons who have had a stroke, those with cardiovascular diseases, kidney problems, and low blood pressure.' 'Possible side effects of consuming sexual enhancement or energy products with sildenafil citrate include changes in vision or sudden vision loss, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, indigestion, nasal congestion, urinary tract infection, and priapism,' it added, quoting the FDA said. Similarly, tadalafil is a prescription drug used to treat male sexual problems but poses side effects to individuals who have had a stroke, as well as blood, heart, kidney and stomach ulcer problems. In line with this, the group advised the public to avoid buying unregistered products and instead consult a health professional before buying or consuming such products. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
The sunny side of renting chickens
STUNG by the rocketing price of eggs – and US supermarkets rationing a basic breakfast staple – Kim Yong-mi decided to get some chickens to secure her own supply in southern California. While many people idly muse about backyard farming, for those not ready to take the plunge permanently, there's a solution: renting a henhouse, complete with egg-laying birds. 'I really want to try it out and see whether I like it or not,' said the Los Angeles-area resident as she took delivery of two chickens and all the equipment they need to live a happy egg-laying life. 'Some people I know have chickens at home, but it's a lot of work for them – they had to adjust the whole garden themselves. So I think renting a chicken is a good start.' Hiring hens began to gain ground in the United States around a decade ago in Pennsylvania when a farming couple set up 'Rent The Chicken'. Chickens sitting inside a portable coop on a trailer before departing from a farm to a client's home. - AFP Since then, the project has expanded to more than 40 cities across North America, with local farmers setting up their own offshoots. The service saw an uptick in interest during the Covid-19 lockdowns, when people were stuck at home. But it has skyrocketed in recent months as consumers recoil over the soaring cost of eggs, thanks to a bird flu pandemic that has seen the wholesale culling of egg-laying birds. 'Especially this year, we have had a much higher interest, I would say, three to four times as much as we were seeing this time last year,' said Victoria Lee, who serves the Los Angeles region from her farm in Agua Dulce. Some Americans have been forking over more than US$10 for a dozen eggs, up to three times their usual price, with supermarkets putting daily limits on the number of cartons a shopper can buy. Fresh eggs being delivered along with chickens and a portable chicken coop to a client's house. - AFP The eyewatering costs were a regular feature of last year's presidential campaign, with candidate Donald Trump pledging to lower grocery bills when he got to the White House. But prices have continued to climb, and in March, eggs were 60% more expensive than a year earlier, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Lee is quick to point out, however, that raising chickens at home is not cheaper than buying eggs at the store. Instead, it's a question of quality. 'By the time they get to the grocery store, (eggs) are on average 48-60 days old,' she said. 'As eggs sit, no matter the quality at the start of that countdown, over time, the protein in the eggs begins to break down.' Kim looking inside a portable chicken coop and her egg-laying chickens after they were delivered to her house. — AFP Backyard eggs, in contrast, are only as old as however long it takes the owner to pick them up off the henhouse floor. 'Rent the Chicken' offers different options that range from around US$500 to over US$1,000 for six months, depending on location and number of birds desired. Packages include the birds, food, waterers and feeders, additional treats and a chicken care guide. But it is the included coop that is most striking – a sort of mini house with what looks like a patio, completely protected by fences. It's also movable, thanks to wheels on the bottom. 'Every day, our renters will lift this up ... and move it forward ... with the chickens having access to fresh grass each day. Lee unloading chickens and a portable chicken coop from her truck as they are delivered to a client's house. — AFP 'They're getting the experience of being on wide-open pasture with that new stimulation, new bugs to look for, new grass to dig through, while still being safe in a predator-proof coop.' The convenience is what made the package attractive to Kim, a university professor living in La Crescenta, near Los Angeles, and when her new coop arrived, she was absolutely thrilled. 'Free eggs!' Lee exclaimed while unloading the new backyard tenants and handing over a complimentary dozen laid the previous week. A client with two chickens can expect up to 14 eggs per week, Lee explains. Kim, whose son is an athlete who eats a lot of eggs, says although the supply crisis prompted her to rent the chickens, it's 'bigger than that'. 'I really wanted to have something for the kids, also to learn as a way of life, and to compare the taste of the eggs,' she said. — AFP
Malaysian Reserve
2 days ago
- Malaysian Reserve
Foundation CEO Provides Expert Testimony to U.S. Senate as Outside Witness on Vision Research Funding
Jason Menzo Urges Robust FY2026 Funding for National Eye Institute and Protection of Its Independent Status COLUMBIA, Md., June 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Foundation Fighting Blindness, the driving force in the global development of treatments and cures for blinding diseases, today submitted written testimony to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies through its chief executive officer, Jason Menzo, who served as an expert outside witness. In the testimony, Menzo urged the Subcommittee to deliver robust and sustained funding for the National Eye Institute (NEI) in Fiscal Year 2026 and to preserve NEI's status as an independent institute within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 'NEI is the only federal institute dedicated exclusively to vision research,' said Jason Menzo, CEO of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. 'Its work is restoring sight, advancing precision medicine, and delivering hope to millions of Americans living with retinal diseases. Continued investment is critical to maintaining momentum and achieving breakthroughs for conditions that currently have no cure.' The Foundation's testimony highlights how NEI-supported research has led to transformative discoveries, including the first FDA-approved gene therapy for an inherited disease, and emphasizes NEI's strategic role in public-private collaborations that accelerate treatment development. The Foundation Fighting Blindness and NEI have long shared a close, collaborative partnership to advance high-impact scientific discovery and bring new treatments to patients faster. Vision loss from diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, and Stargardt disease currently affects tens of millions and costs the U.S. economy an estimated $134.2 billion annually. The Foundation emphasized that inconsistent funding stalls clinical trials, closes labs, and risks losing top scientific talent—consequences that are difficult and costly to reverse. The testimony also noted that for every dollar invested in NIH-funded research, $2.56 in new economic activity is generated, making this one of the highest-return investments Congress can make. 'We're not just talking about restoring sight—we're talking about protecting America's leadership in biomedical innovation and supporting economic growth in communities nationwide,' added Menzo. The Foundation Fighting Blindness urges Congress to: Provide strong, sustained funding for NEI in the FY2026 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill; and Preserve NEI's status as an independent institute within NIH to ensure focused, strategic investment in vision science. The full testimony is available at About the Foundation Fighting BlindnessEstablished in 1971, the Foundation Fighting Blindness is the world's leading private source of funding for research on retinal degenerative diseases. The Foundation has raised over $954 million toward its mission to prevent, treat, and cure blinding diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and more. Visit for more information. Media Contacts:Chris AdamsVice President, Marketing & CommunicationsCAdams@ 423-0585
