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Last week, I implored you to urge your congressional members to Support Biomedical Research in the Economic Stimulus Package. The message was clearly received as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which President Obama signed today, includes $10 billion USD for biomedical research into cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease. The stimulus bill also includes significant support for updating U.S. healthcare systems and over a billion dollars for evidence-based medicine research.

Funding in the economic recovery package with respect to biomedical research and healthcare is as follows:

• National Institutes of Health (NIH): $10 billion, which includes $8.2 billion to the Office of the Director ($7.4 billion for distribution to the institutes and centers and $800 million for the Office of the Director for trans-NIH initiatives), $1.3 billion to the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) ($1 billion for “competitive awards for the construction and renovation of extramural research facilities” and $300 million for shared instrumentation and other capital equipment) and $500 million for improvements to the NIH campus.
• National Science Foundation (NSF): $3 billion for “basic research in fundamental science and engineering”, including $2.5 billion for highly-rated peer reviewed research proposals, $400 million for construction of and equipment in national labs, and $100 million for improving instruction in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research; $400 million will be transferred to the NIH to support comparative effectiveness research. The remaining balance will be used for comparative research of drugs, devices and medical procedures.
• Prevention and Wellness Fund: $1 billion, of which some portion will be allocated to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In addition, a large part of the stimulus package will be used to modernize healthcare systems to lower costs and save lives:

• $86.6 billion to help states with Medicaid.
• $24.7 billion to provide a 65% subsidy of healthcare insurance premiums for the unemployed under the COBRA program.
• $19 billion to modernize health information technology systems.
• $1 billion to repair and renovate Veterans Administration medical facilities.

Science Progress has tallied total funding of Science in the Stimulus for a number of science-related research and development programs. You can track the progress of the stimulus package at a new web site dedicated to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Recovery.gov features a link to the full text of the Act and a timeline for various milestones.

The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) President Richard Marchase, Ph.D. shared his hope for continued support earlier this week [1]:

Ultimately, it is our hope that the economic recovery package is the first step forward towards a long-term, sustainable investment in both biomedical and other scientific research. Stable and predictable budget growth will expedite the research that will improve the health and quality of life of all Americans.

The administration’s commitment to scientific research will become clear later this month when the revised FY 2009 budget is released. Currently, the NIH is running on extended funding at 2008 levels through March 6th, 2009.

References

1. FASEB Praises Inclusion of NIH, NSF, DOE Science Funding in Stimulus. FASEB press release. 2009 Feb 12.

Additional information was collected from the following sources:

1. Recovery.gov. Accessed 2009 Feb 17.
2. Download the Stimulus Bill. ProPublica. 2009 Feb 13.
3. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Investing in Science. Representative Rush Holt, the 12th District of New Jersey. Accessed 2009 Feb 17.

This week, Congress is working to reconcile biomedical research funding differences in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. According to ProPublica, the Senate bill would spend substantially more on biomedical research than the House bill (10 billion vs. 900 million USD).

It is imperative that you urge your congressional members to support biomedical research as a critical driver of our economy. Here’s why: the biotechnology industry is a major driver of the U.S. economy and has been for the past 30 years [1]. Federal granting agencies have “shovel-ready” projects that will promote economic growth today — those research projects will help fight disease and improve the quality of life for everyone in America tomorrow.

As a result of increased funding, granting agencies will lower award score thresholds and money will begin flowing to research programs, literally within months. Many of the projects have already been reviewed and are simply waiting on funding. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds research at hospitals, medical centers and universities in all 50 states. Expanded research programs will create thousands of high-quality jobs and increase purchasing from largely American supply companies throughout the country.

It is truly an investment in the future of America’s health.

In an opinion article published at the WashingtonPost.com on Sunday, actor and pancreatic cancer patient Patrick Swayze cites several additional benefits to investing in biomedical research [2]:

• Every dollar in federal research spending generates about $2.20 in total economic activity in communities that host funded projects [3]. Thus, an estimated $22 billion would be generated from the Senate measure.
• Reducing cancer deaths by just 1 percent would provide a $500 billion benefit to the economy in productivity gains and lower healthcare costs [4].

I often write about the stagnation in U.S. biomedical research funding and the fiscal pressures these programs face in the current funding environment. As America looks to jump-start job creation and long-term economic growth, an investment in biomedical research will provide economic benefits at the local level today where it is needed. Such investment will pay off in the long term with biomedical advances that will benefit everyone. Indeed, to rebuild America, President Obama has called for an investment in science and research [5]:

And it means investing in the science, research, and technology that will lead to new medical breakthroughs, new discoveries, and entire new industries.

Research!America is pushing for $10 billion to be included in the recovery plan. The organization makes it quick and easy to contact your congressional members and urge them to support investing in the NIH and increased funding of biomedical research.

Please take a moment to email your congressional members and urge them to support biomedical research in the economic stimulus package.

References

1. The Role of Biomedical Research in the Economic Stimulus. Statement of Raynard S. Kington, M.D., Ph.D. Acting Director, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2008 Nov 13.
2. Patrick Swayze. I’m Battling Cancer. How About Some Help, Congress? The Washington Post. 2009 Feb 8.
3. In Your Own Backyard: How NIH Funding Helps Your State’s Economy. Families USA. 2008 June.
4. Murphy KM and Topel RH. The Value of Health and Longevity. Journal of Political Economy. 114(5):871-904, 2006 Oct.
5. President Barack Obama. Speech on the economy from George Mason University, Washington D.C. 2009 Jan 8.

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