Vote yes on medical research initiative I-181

I’m a Great Falls resident and member of the Congregation of Humility of Mary. Years ago, I became foster mother to 5­—year—old Lissie, a child born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

FASD effects brain development in utero resulting in lowered IQ and diminished brain function. Lifetime costs for this disorder are reported to be $1.4 million. Love, personal care and nurturing allowed Lissie to progress beyond expectation. Few FASD children are as fortunate. Permanent brain damage has caused lifelong challenges desperately needing research. FASD is not well known and scant research funding is directed toward it. 

I was delighted that I-181, Montana Biomedical Research Initiative, qualified for the November general election in Montana. I-181 would develop bond funding over the course of a decade for biomedical research by Montana scientists and medical professionals into a variety of brain diseases, disorders and dysfunctions. 

We already have bright Montanans at our universities and research facilities doing significant work in these areas. I-181 would expand that work through funding grants, allowing more researchers to stay in or come to Montana. The work will focus on finding treatments and cures for some of our most challenging health problems, like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, PTSD, addiction disorders, depression, and — yes — FASD!

Reducing the incidence, duration and severity of some of these problems will greatly reduce costs to our state budget caring for these people. More importantly, this initiative will improve the health and lives of tens of thousands of Montana patients and their families.