MEDICAL RESEARCH: Group Recommends 15% Hike For NIH
The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research Funding is recommending a 15% increase in National Institutes of Health spending for FY 1999. The 15% hike represents what the group calls the first step in its goal of doubling NIH spending over the next five years. The coalition is also calling on NIH leaders to consider how additional funding can be spent to maximize research opportunities. Accordingly, the group recommends that NIH and its extramural partners establish a process of consultation and planning to develop a comprehensive, credible approach to allocating new resources based upon the most promising scientific opportunities and the most pressing public health needs. This process, the group says, should be aimed at sustaining and enhancing basic research activities, expanding clinical research and clinical research training opportunities, reinvigorating research training and ensuring that the NIH has the research facilities and infrastructure needed achieve its goals.
Support In Congress
The Ad Hoc Group notes that there is strong support in Congress for doubling the NIH budget over five years. Currently, nine senators have endorsed a resolution calling for aggressive growth in NIH funding. A similar House resolution has 24 cosponsors.
Read All About It
The Ad Hoc Group makes annual funding recommendations for NIH and its member research institutes. The coalition is comprised of nearly 200 patient and voluntary health groups, medical and scientific societies, academic and research organizations and industries. The complete medical research funding recommendations can be viewed on the Web at www.aamc.org/adhocgp/.