FY 2011 Request for National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering

“The mission of the NIBIB is to improve human health by leading the development and accelerating the application of biomedical technologies. By focusing on improving health care through technology, NIBIB invests resources in both scientific and technological opportunities and in support of the next generation of researchers.” - Director’s Overview

The budget for the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) would increase by 3.0 percent or $9.5 million under the FY 2011 budget request submitted by the Obama Administration. NIBIB is part of the National Institutes of Health, for which the Administration requested a $1 billion increase to $32.3 billion.

Current NIBIB funding is $316.5 million, and would increase to $325.9 million. Details on NIBIB’s request are available here . A section in the budget document states that “NIBIB funding policies give special consideration to grant applications that bridge and integrate the life and physical sciences, and also focus on enhancing support for new investigators.”The document explains changes in the budget request as follows:

“Research Project Grants (RPGs; +$5.210 million; total $235.716 million):

NIBIB will continue to maintain an adequate number of competing RPGs—185 awards in FY 2011, (a decrease of 13 from FY 2010). About 389 noncompeting RPG awards, totaling $161.927 million also will be made in FY 2011.”

“Training (+$0.730 million: total $12.384 million):

Training costs will increase in FY 2011 as stipends for both predoctoral and postdoctoral training positions will increase by 6%. This increase is also reflected in the FY 2011 Technological Competitiveness - Bridging the Sciences program total, as all NIBIB training activities are within that program.”

“Research & Development Contracts (+$1.367 million; total $15.695 million):

Increase in the Contracts mechanism reflects a high level of support in FY 2011 for trans-NIH initiatives (+$0.705 million) and increased support for other HHS agencies through the program evaluation set-aside (+$0.939 million). These FY 2011 increases are partially offset due to the ending of the Genes and the Environment Initiative in FY 2010(-$0.507).”