hard to guarantee at least two years of protected research time to all of its fellows. During the first year of training, fellows devote 100% of their time to clinical training in inpatient and outpatient care at the NIH Clinical Center (NIH-CC), Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, MedStar Washington Hospital Center and the Johns Hopkins University. This ensures that fellows undergo comprehensive clinical training and extend their experience with a wide spectrum of human cancers and hematologic diseases. Training in clinical diagnostic procedures such as bone marrow examination, thoracentesis, and paracentesis is a routine part of the first-year experience. Following completion of this 18-month clinical period, the fellow does laboratory or clinical research for up to 4 years of fellowship along with continued outpatient clinical duties. TheMembers of the Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Association were in our nation's capital Tuesday lobbying members of congress to support the Muhammad Ali Expansion Act.

While other fighter associations, such as the PFA and MMAAA, have been quiet of late, the MMAFA has kept busy working on gaining support for the bill in Congress. Tuesday's trip by fighters Lew Polley and Pete Spratt, along with trainer Juanito Ibarra, was the third trip the group has made to Washington, DC to lobby for H.R. 44, as the bill is designated in the House of Representatives, so far this year. According to the MMAFA the trips have been self-financed by its members.

H.R. 44 would amend the 1996 Professional Boxers Safety Act to include other combat sports' athletes, including MMA fighters. Authored