SfN Applauds Funding Bill Giving $3 Billion Boost for NIH Biomedical Research
The Society for Neuroscience thanks Congress for providing an additional $3 billion in funding for biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the FY2018 omnibus appropriations bill. The increase, which brings total funding for the fiscal year to $37.1 billion, is a reflection of the strong bipartisan support for NIH.
The additional funding includes $500 million for research related to opioid addiction, a $414 million increase for Alzheimer’s disease research and a total of $400 million for the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. The bill also fully releases the $496 million in the 21st Century Cures Act, which contains specific funds for the BRAIN Initiative, and other targeted research efforts. The BRAIN Initiative is one part of the overall federal investment in neuroscience research.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) saw an increase of $295 million, totaling nearly $7.8 billion in funding for FY2018. The additional funding allowed for a 5 percent increase to “research and related activities” at NSF.
“This investment in neuroscience as part of the overall investments in NIH and NSF is a clear signal that Congress recognizes that scientific research is vital to both human health and the economy,” said SfN President Richard Huganir. “With these new dollars, neuroscientists will be able to make novel discoveries that may fundamentally transform our understanding of the brain and the nervous system. This kind of sustained investment by our national leaders will encourage many young scientists to continue to pursue promising careers in research.”
SfN commends appropriators for these critical investments in science, notably Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), chairs and ranking members of their respective appropriations subcommittees responsible for funding NIH. SfN also congratulates Sen. Blunt and Rep. Cole on their SfN 2017 Public Advocacy Awards, which were presented to them in early March. Sen. Blunt and Rep. Cole were integral in supplying additional funding for NIH for the past three years, and we thank them for their role as research champions in Congress.
Advancing scientific research paves the way for new treatments, lower costs, and provides hope to hundreds of millions of American patients and families battling brain and spinal cord diseases each year. The Society lauds this significant support for biomedical research funding and looks forward to working with Congress to continue to advance funding for NIH and NSF.
