Research your candidates

It's election season. Do you know where your candidates stand on medical research? 

Patients, advocates, and all those who care about heart health know that robust investments in research paired with policies that support medical innovation are key to finding new cures and treatments. With heart disease and stroke being the No. 1 and No. 5 killers in America, it’s surprising that candidates running for national office have not shared their detailed plans for accelerating medical progress.

To elevate the importance of research during this election season, The American Heart Association has once again partnered with Research!America, a non-profit advocacy alliance, on the non-partisan voter education initiative, Campaign for Cures: Vote for Medical Progress! Through strategic communications, grassroots, and on-the-ground activities, the initiative will educate voters and candidates about the health and economic benefits of public and private sector research.

The Campaign for Cures website features an interactive U.S. map with hundreds of quotes on medical progress from candidates across the political spectrum running for national office. Visitors also have the option to contact their candidate directly through the website and take the campaign pledge. The Campaign for Cures blog, managed by former USA Today senior editor and health reporter Janice Lloyd, includes election news, survey data, commentary and analysis of Presidential and Congressional races in key states on topics relevant to medical progress.

To learn more about the initiative, visit www.campaignforcures.org, “Like” the initiative on Facebook and follow the conversation on Twitter @Campaign4Cures .