Congress has created a new Peer-Reviewed Alzheimer’s Research program at the Department of Defense. The program was included in the federal spending bill signed by the president on April 15, 2011. While countless programs received funding reductions, including a $260 million cut for the National Institutes of Health, the Alzheimer’s community secured a significant victory for Alzheimer’s research in the finalized spending bill. The Peer-Reviewed Alzheimer’s Research program created by Congress at the Department of Defense has been funded at $15 million for its inaugural year. This newly created program will fund innovative and outcome-oriented research that is relevant to both the Alzheimer's community and the military. It will provide a vital source of new funding for Alzheimer’s researchers. The Alzheimer’s Association worked closely with Congress on the inclusion of this provision in the bill and looks forward to working with the Department of Defense to accelerate the development of treatments that would prevent, cure, or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Read our full statement here.