FY 2005 National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering

The Bush Administration has requested a 3.1% increase in the FY 2005 budget for the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. Under this request, NIBIB’s budget would rise $8.8 million from $288.8 million to $297.7 million. The Administration requested a 2.7% or $764 million increase for NIH for a total budget of $28,805 million. NIH’s budget doubled from FY 1999 through FY 2003.

The NIBIB is the newest institute at NIH, having been established in December 2000. Funding has grown from $68.9 million in FY 2001 to $288.8 million in the current year. The budget document explains that the budget request would provide “funding for 24 research centers, 28 other research grants, including 7 R&D contacts.” NIBIB describes its program in a 28-page budget document that can be viewed at: http://www.nibib1.nih.gov/about/NIBIBCJFY2005.pdf This document states:

“The mission of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) is to improve health by leading the development and application of emerging and breakthrough biomedical technologies based in the biological, physical and engineering sciences. These technologies will facilitate an improved fundamental understanding of complex biological processes and facilitate disease detection, management, and prevention. To champion its mission, the Institute will support focused and multidisciplinary research in biomedical imaging and bioengineering to advance the Nation’s health care agenda; develop and implement programs that provide interdisciplinary training in the quantitative and biomedical sciences to ensure the availability of future generations of highly trained researchers; promote trans-NIH, interagency, and multi- organizational collaborations aimed at translating fundamental research discoveries into biomedical applications; and establish an intramural research and training program focusing on emerging biomedical technologies that span multiple disciplines and applications. The research promoted and supported by NIBIB is strongly synergistic with the other NIH Institutes and Centers as well as across government agencies, and has the potential for direct positive medical application. Ultimately, NIBIB seeks to translate research findings from the laboratory into practical solutions that will benefit public health.

“Research in biomedical imaging and bioengineering is progressing rapidly and is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary. Recent technological advances have revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of disease and provide unprecedented opportunities for furthering understanding of biological processes and for conducting powerful biological investigations. To capitalize on these opportunities, the NIBIB is developing a robust research program in biomedical imaging and bioengineering that will focus on developing fundamental new knowledge, fostering potent new technologies, supporting promising researchers, and facilitating cross-cutting capabilities. NIBIB is also planning activities in fiscal year (FY) 2004 that will provide further guidance in setting a future research agenda in biomedical imaging and bioengineering. The NIBIB, in close collaboration with members of our National Advisory Council and with broad public input, is embarking on the development of a Strategic Plan that will be reflective of our unique mission and science.”