WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) last week was awarded the inaugural Dennis Moore Alzheimer Champion Award, named in honor of former Kansas Congressman Dennis Moore, by the Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Kansas. Sen. Moran was presented this award at the first-ever Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Kansas Memory Gala in Wichita, which raised more than $384,000 for Alzheimer’s research.

"Senator Jerry Moran is a tireless advocate for those living with Alzheimer's disease and for their caregivers,” said Dennis and Stephene Moore. “We appreciate that he recognizes that as Democrats and Republicans we must put our partisan views aside and move forward together to further research and find a cure for this disease."

“Senator Moran was nominated and recognized by the CWKS board of directors as someone who has been a true advocate for the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association,” said Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Kansas Board of Directors Secretary Dr. Stephen Benson. “He has shown that Alzheimer’s affects many and does not discriminate based on political party. His work has been instrumental in our efforts for an effective treatment or cure.”

“The KU Alzheimer’s Disease Center congratulates Senator Jerry Moran on his receipt of the inaugural Dennis Moore Alzheimer Champion Award,” said the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Center Director Dr. Russell Swerdlow. “We appreciate Sen. Moran’s efforts to increase research funding for Alzheimer’s, a disease that is accompanied by tremendous health care costs. Only through research can we discover the mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s and work to prevent and cure it.”

“Dennis and I served together in Congress for 12 years and I have the greatest respect for and Stephene, which is why I’m so honored to receive this award in his name,” said Sen. Moran. “I am grateful to the Moore family and the Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Kansas for recognizing my work – I will continue advocating for Alzheimer’s funding and research.”

As a member of Senate Appropriations Committee, the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease and co-chair of the Senate NIH Caucus, Sen. Moran has worked to increase Alzheimer’s research funding by more than $400 million in FY16 and FY17 and continues advocating for another $400 million increase for FY18. 

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