Jessica L. O'Hara
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, Wednesday, May 5, 2010, a week after presenting his testimony before the corresponding committee in the House of Representatives. During the hearing, subcommittee chair Tom Harkin (D-IA) praised NIH’s research accomplishments and its contributions to improving the nation’s health. However, Senator Harkin also acknowledged the challenges the agency will face when American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, PL 111-5) grants expire. According to Senator Harkin, the subcommittee will be forced to make “tough decisions” about the fiscal year (FY) 2011 budget in consideration of the current federal fiscal climate.
In his testimony, Dr. Collins thanked the subcommittee for its “steadfast support” of NIH’s mission, particularly the FY 2010 NIH budget level of $31 billion, and the $10.4 billion provided to the agency through ARRA. In response to Senator Harkin’s inquiry about the impact on research after ARRA grants expire, Dr. Collins noted that success rates, which historically have ranged between 25-30%, are expected to drop from 21% this year to as low as 15% in FY 2011. He also indicated that NIH is encouraging researchers who have unspent ARRA funds and are mid-project to apply for no-cost extensions.
President Barack H. Obama’s FY 2011 budget requested $32.1 billion for NIH, an increase of $1 billion over FY 2010. According to the budget, this NIH investment would focus on five priority areas: genomics, translational research, science to support health care reform, global health, and reinvigorating the biomedical research community. The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research, of which the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine is a member, recommends $35 million for NIH in FY 2011.