Congress Prioritizes Biomedical Research Funding in Recently Passed FY 2020 Appropriation Packages
The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) appreciates the funding increases provided to federal biomedical research agencies for FY 2020 and thanks Congress for their work in completing these bills before the continuing resolution expired on December 20. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) received a $2.6 billion increase, providing a total of $41.7 billion for the agency—the fifth consecutive year of multi-billion dollar increases for NIH. The National Science Foundation (NSF) also received an increase and will be funded at $8.28 billion for FY 2020. Medical research programs within the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs also received funding increases for FY 2020. It is through strong support for federal research initiatives that we can increase our understanding of the brain and nervous system, leading to future cures and therapeutics for millions of patients worldwide.
In addition, SfN is appreciative that, within the NIH appropriations bill, Congress recognizes the importance of animal models used in biomedical research. The use of animal models, specifically non-human primates, is essential in studying and understanding the thousands of diseases and disorders of the brain and nervous system. Congress asked NIH to provide a report on non-human primate research in 2020 and SfN looks forward to working with NIH, other science agencies, and Congress to ensure that necessary and irreplaceable primate studies can continue to be used responsibly and appropriately.
