I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3502 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish an Office of 
Mitochondrial Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 31, 2009 
Mr. MCDERMOTT (for himself, Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia, Ms. WASSERMAN 
SCHULTZ, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania, 
Mr. ELLSWORTH, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. KIRK, Mr. ADLER of New Jersey, Mr. 
MCGOVERN, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. THORNBERRY, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, and 
Mr. THOMPSON of California) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish an 
Office of Mitochondrial Medicine at the National Insti-
tutes of Health, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Mitochondrial Medi-
cine Research and Treatment Enhancement Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Mitochondrial disease results when there is 
a defect that reduces the ability of the mitochondria 
in a cell to produce energy. As the mitochondria fail 
to produce enough energy, the cell will cease to func-
tion properly and will eventually die. Organ systems 
will begin to fail, and the life of the individual is 
compromised or ended. 
(2) There are more than 40 specifically identi-
fied mitochondrial diseases, but the vast majority 
have not yet been identified. 
(3) Mitochondrial diseases are a relatively newly 
diagnosed group of diseases, first recognized in the 
late 1960s. Diagnosis is extremely difficult for a 
number of reasons. 
(4) Mitochondrial diseases can present them-
selves at any age, with associated mortality rates 
that vary depending upon the particular disease. The 
most severe diseases result in progressive loss of 
neurological and liver function, and death within 
several years. 
(5) According to the National Institute of Envi-
ronmental Health Sciences, half of those affected by 
mitochondrial disease are children, who show symp-
toms before age five and approximately 80 percent 
of whom will not survive beyond the age of 20. 
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(6) Mitochondrial dysfunction is also associated 
with numerous other related disorders, including 
many common neurological diseases (such as Parkin-
son’s, Alzheimer’s, ALS, and autism), and other dis-
eases associated with aging, diabetes, cancer, and 
obesity. 
(7) Mitochondrial disease is most commonly the 
result of genetic mutation, either in the nuclear 
DNA 
or 
in 
the 
mitochondrial 
DNA. 
Some 
mitochondrial diseases also are attributable to envi-
ronmental factors, including prescription medica-
tions, that interfere with mitochondrial function. 
(8) Researchers estimate that one in 4,000 chil-
dren will develop a mitochondrial disease related to 
an inherited mutation by the age of 10 years, and 
that 1,000–2,000 children are born each year in the 
United States who will develop mitochondrial disease 
in their lifetimes. However, studies of umbilical cord 
blood samples show that one in 200 children are 
born with both normal and mutant mitochondrial 
DNA, and the number of children with these 
mutations who actually develop a disease is un-
known. 
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(9) There are no cures for any of the specifi-
cally identified mitochondrial diseases, nor is there a 
specific treatment for any of these diseases. 
(10) Improving our basic understanding of 
mitochondrial function and dysfunction has potential 
application to numerous areas of biomedical re-
search. The National Institutes of Health has taken 
an increased interest in mitochondrial disease and 
dysfunction and has sponsored a number of activities 
in recent years aimed at advancing mitochondrial 
medicine, including incorporating research into func-
tional variation in mitochondria in the Trans-
formative Research Grants Initiative. 
(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act to pro-
mote an enhanced research effort aimed at improved un-
derstanding of mitochondrial disease and dysfunction and 
the development of treatments for mitochondrial disease. 
SEC. 3. ENHANCEMENT OF RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 
ACTIVITIES RELATED TO MITOCHONDRIAL 
MEDICINE. 
(a) MITOCHONDRIAL
MEDICINE
RESEARCH
EN-
HANCEMENT.—Part A of title IV of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating section 404H as section 
404I; and 
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