Dear Members of the TSC Community,
We understand that the House and Senate Appropriations Committees are currently negotiating a final FY26 Defense Appropriations Act. You will recall that the House version of this bill, approved by the House back in July 2025, includes $8 million for the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Research Program (TSCRP) at the Department of Defense (DoD).
We need to ensure that no less than $8 million is ultimately included in the final package!
Please contact your Senators and Representatives and encourage them to reach out to their respective Appropriations Committees, urging that the final FY26 Defense Appropriations Act includes no less than $8 million for the TSCRP. This funding is essential to encourage continuity for the program, and vital to ensuring that impactful grants on TSC research can be awarded this year. We’ve provided language below that can be used when contacting them.
If you have any questions, please contact Katie Smith at ksmith@tscalliance.org. Thank you for your help on this critical issue!
Sample email language:
Dear Senator/Representative,
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder that can cause tumor growth in all the body’s vital organs. Symptoms can include seizures, kidney failure, brain and lung tumors, autism spectrum disorder, and severe learning disabilities. TSC occurs in approximately 1:6,000 live births, affecting an estimated 50,000 Americans.
Since fiscal year 2002, Congress has appropriated an aggregate of $121 million for the TSCRP. It is a peer-reviewed program that awards grants competitively to cutting-edge research proposals aimed at gaining a better understanding of this complex disorder. It has strong bipartisan support from Members of the House and the Senate and is the only source of federally funded research specific to TSC. Continued funding is essential to support a robust level of grant awards for basic, translational and clinical research to truly provide hope for improved quality of life for all those living with TSC.
We urge you to ensure your respective Appropriations Committees include no less than $8 million for the TSCRP in the final FY26 Defense Appropriations Act. This funding is essential to encourage continuity for the program, and vital to ensuring that impactful grants on TSC research can be awarded.