P.A.N.D.O.R.A.'s NeuroEndocrineImmune (NEI) Center™ Resolution Awaits Passage from New Jersey State Senate

Coral Gables, FL, March 18, 2010 --(PR.com)-- A resolution encouraging the establishment of the NeuroEndocrineImmune (NEI) Center™ , the first research center in the state of New Jersey dedicated to understanding and treating chronic neuroendocrineimmune (NEI) illnesses which includes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, is currently awaiting passage in the New Jersey State Senate.

Senate Resolution (SR) 20, sponsored by Senator Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R), Senate Deputy Conference Leader, and Senator Loretta Weinberg (D), Chair of the Senate Health Committee, cites studies that an estimated 20 million American adults and children suffer with NEIDs. The economic impact and loss of worker productivity in the United States due to CFS/ME, alone, is estimated to be over $9 billion per year. Chronic illness represents 75% of all the health care costs in the U.S.

“It makes sense to locate the NEI center in New Jersey,” said Senator Weinberg. “As the nation’s medicine chest, New Jersey is home to research institutions and private businesses that can cooperate to find a cure for these debilitating diseases.”

Senator Bateman added, “I look forward to the passage of Senate Resolution 20, solidifying legislative support for the research center, and have high hopes that this will, in fact, be a great step forward toward finding answers for the sufferers of these debilitating diseases.

Assembly Resolution 202 passes unanimously
Late last year, a similar resolution unanimously passed the New Jersey State Assembly 78-0. “Having a research center…is essential to promoting research into the etiology of, and therapeutic interventions for neuroendocrineimmune disorders (NEIDs),” according to Assembly Resolution (AR) 202 which was sponsored by Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula (D), Deputy Speaker; Assemblyman Herb Conaway, Jr. (D), Chairman, Health Committee; Assemblywoman Connie Wagner(D), Vice-Chairman; and Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini (R), member of the Health Committee

P.A.N.D.O.R.A. partners with the Lanford Foundation-Lifelyme™, Inc.
To be based in Newark, New Jersey, the NeuroEndocrineImmune (NEI) Center™ is a community patient-driven project of P.A.N.D.O.R.A, (Patient Alliance for Neuroendocrineimmune Disorders Organization for Research & Advocacy, Inc) in partnership with the Lanford Foundation-Lifelyme™, Inc.

The NEI Center™ is the first research center to incorporate scientific and clinical research, quality in patient care, and social services, all in one state-of-the art facility. The establishment of The NEI Center™ is based on the philosophy that the similarities in symptoms of neuroendocrineimmune disorders (NEIDs) are the human body’s response to similarities in the underlying pathophysiologies that cause these disorders.

The cornerstone of the NEI Center's mission is that discoveries and advances made in any one of the NEIDs will be applicable and beneficial to other NEIDs, thereby bringing medical researchers closer to a cure.

At its inception, the NEI Center™ will include research of the following disorders/illnesses:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
Fibromyalgia (FM)
Gulf War Syndrome or Illness (GWS/I)
Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and other associated bacterial and viral illnesses

“Moral and political victory”
Said Marly Silverman, a CFS and fibromyalgia patient who founded P.A.N.D.O.RA. in 2002, “On behalf of P.A.N.D.O.R.A. and Sandi Lanford from the Lanford Foundation-Lifelyme™, Inc., we urge the New Jersey legislators to pass SR 20 and be part of an amazing and pivotal moment in the history of the neuroendocrine immune disorders communities. Your vote would demonstrate a caring commitment to a community of patients who for the first time can look forward to a brighter future.”

Veny W. Musum, chairman of the NEI Center who was diagnosed with chronic lyme disease in 2004 along with his wife, Patricia, added, “The passage of SR 20 would be a moral and political victory for millions of individuals stricken with neuroendocrineimmune disorders who have been living far too long without the compassionate support, research and treatment options they deserve.”

NEI Center set to open by 2012
SR 20 after approval will be recorded by the New Jersey Secretary of State. Previously the New Jersey State Assembly passed a similar resolution, AR 202, which has already been recorded with the New Jersey Secretary of State. The NEI Center founders are already preparing fundraising efforts to make the Center operational by late 2011-early 2012

For more information about The NEI Center, visit their Cause page on Facebook: or visit www.neicenter.com.

About P.A.N.D.O.R.A., Inc- Patient Alliance for Neuroendocrineimmune Disorders Organization for Research & Advocacy
Based in Coral Gables, Florida, P.A.N.D.O.R.A. was founded on July 1, 2002 by Marly C. Silverman, a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and fibromyalgia patient. Its mission is to raise awareness of the plight of persons with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, Gulf War illness, multiple chemical sensitivities, environmental illnesses, and persistent Lyme disease and advocate on quality of life issues. P.A.N.D.O.R.A. is Built on Hope - Strong on Advocacy - Finding a Cure through Research. For more information, visit www.pandoranet.info.

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