FORWARD Act of 2023

The FORWARD Act of 2023 establishes new funding and coordination mechanisms to address endemic fungal diseases in the U.S., primarily affecting patients with conditions like Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis), blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, and sporotrichosis. It authorizes $20 million annually (2024-2028) for NIH research on these diseases and creates an HHS working group to coordinate federal efforts, identify research gaps, and recommend strategies - including for antifungal product development. The bill also expands a priority review voucher program to incentivize treatments for Valley Fever and launches a $500 million antimicrobial resistance program requiring at least 20% of funds to support antifungal research. These provisions directly impact federal agencies (NIH, CDC, FDA), researchers, healthcare providers, and patients affected by endemic fungal infections.