The Scientist: NewsBlog:
NIH: stimulated but flat
Posted by Bob Grant
[Entry posted at 24th February 2009 04:51 PM GMT]
The National Institutes of Health -- the happy recipient of about $10 billion from the recently-passed economic stimulus bill -- is staring down the barrel of another year of flat funding, according to the draft FY2009 budget released yesterday by the House of Representatives.
Howard Garrison, a spokesperson for the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), told The Scientist that the '09 NIH budget did not come as a surprise. "It's not a healthy increase," Garrison said, "but it is an increase. And it's what we were expecting." Other government science agencies fare a little better than the NIH in the bill. The Food and Drug Administration would get $2 billion, or $335 million above its 2008 budget, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would receive $6.6 billion, $239 million above last year. National Science Foundation funding would be bumped by 7% to 6.9 billion, a reasonable increase given the $3 billion increase it received in the stimulus bill. The numbers may yet change as the bill gets tossed around the House and Senate floors before a final vote. Related stories: [23rd February 2009] [11th February 2009] |
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That's no peanuts for FDA
by anonymous poster
[Comment posted 2009-02-24 13:55:38]
[Comment posted 2009-02-24 13:55:38]
"The Food and Drug Administration would get $2 billion, or $335 million above its 2008 budget,..."
I guess FDA needed an increased fund to improve its food inspection, following the recent peanut butter incident.
I guess FDA needed an increased fund to improve its food inspection, following the recent peanut butter incident.
Out of context
by Howard Garrison
[Comment posted 2009-02-24 13:44:37]
[Comment posted 2009-02-24 13:44:37]
My remark about the size of the NIH increase was taken out of context. I was responding to the reporter's statement that NIH had not received ANY increase in the Omnibus. I disagreed and pointed to the $938 million for FY2009. When the reporter raised the issue of adusting for inflation, I noted that IN THAT CONTEXT the increase was not large.
But the funding increases for NIH and NSF in the Ominbus bill are important for several reasons. They establish the priority for investment in science and are a first step toward a return to stable, sustained increases.
But the funding increases for NIH and NSF in the Ominbus bill are important for several reasons. They establish the priority for investment in science and are a first step toward a return to stable, sustained increases.
Budget question
by BRADLEY ANDRESEN
[Comment posted 2009-02-24 13:03:40]
[Comment posted 2009-02-24 13:03:40]
This may be more appropriate for a blog, but I must ask the scientific community that with Obama wanting to decrease the deficit by 50% in 4 years can we really expect large increases in the NIH budget? I think we cannot expect that and we need to make responsible changes in light of a reasonable assumption that funding will be relatively flat.
Now, I will confess that I want increased funding for the NIH. I would love to see funding levels at the 20%+ level, but I do not expect it anytime soon.
Now, I will confess that I want increased funding for the NIH. I would love to see funding levels at the 20%+ level, but I do not expect it anytime soon.
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