107th Congress

Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplantation Act of 2002

S. 2849

Background

On August 1, 2002, Senators Susan M. Collins (R-ME) and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced S. 2849, the Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplantation Act of 2002.

Provisions of the Legislation/Impact on NIH

The bill would have 1) increased the supply of pancreatic islet cells for research, 2) provided for better coordination of Federal efforts and information on islet cell transplantation, and 3) collected the data necessary to move islet cell transplantation from an experimental procedure to a standard therapy. In addition, to encourage organ donation, the bill would have required the establishment of a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Interagency Committee on Islet Cell Transplantation. This committee would have included representatives from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (to serve as chairperson), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other agencies, and National Institutes of Health representatives as deemed appropriate by the chairperson and Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The coordinating committee would have been responsible for 1) conducting a study and reporting the results of the adequacy of Federal research funding for research on islet cell transplantation, 2) reviewing current policies and regulations affecting the supply of pancreases, 3) investigating the effect of xenotransplantation on advancing islet cell transplantation and the effect of United Network for Organ Sharing variances on pancreas retrieval and transplantation, and 4) reviewing the existing mechanisms to collect and coordinate outcome data from existing islet cell transplantation trials. It would have also required the Secretary of HHS to commission the Institute of Medicine to conduct a study on the impact of islet cell transplantation on the health-related quality of life for individuals with juvenile diabetes and the cost-effectiveness of the treatment. Such sums as may be necessary would have been authorized to carry out the specified activities.

Status and Outlook

On August 1, 2002, S. 2849 was introduced and referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. No further action occurred on this legislation during the 107th Congress.