FY 2011 Senate Appropriations Bill: National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering

Yesterday the Senate Appropriations Committee released the committee report accompanying S. 3686, the FY 2011 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill. Under this bill, total funding for the National Institutes of Health would increase 3.5 percent, an amount the committee notes is “equal to the rate of biomedical inflation.” Funding for the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering would increase 2.8 percent.

Below are selected figures and language from Senate Report 111-243, which may be viewed in its entirety at this site . The counterpart House appropriations subcommittee has drafted its bill and provided a two-page summary. The report will be released following action by the full committee.

National Institutes of Health

FY 2010 appropriation: $31,005.2 million
FY 2011 Administration request: $32,007.2 million
House subcommittee recommendation: $32,007 million, an increase of approximately $1,002 million or 3.2 percent above this year.
Senate full committee recommendation: $32,007.2 million, an increase of $1,002 million or 3.2 percent above this year.

The Senate committee report stated:

“The Committee recognizes that the NIH faces an imposing ‘funding cliff’ following the historic increase--nearly $10,400,000,000--provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 [ARRA]. Negotiating the softest possible landing is critical to maintaining the scientific momentum gained over the past 2 years and ensuring that young investigators in particular can find a bright future in the field of biomedical research. While the 3.2 percent increase proposed by the administration and recommended by the Committee is less than what would have been desired in stronger economic times, it keeps up with biomedical inflation--a distinction that was all too rare during the mid-2000s. The Committee hopes that this will mark the first of several years of growth for the NIH that, if not spectacular, are at least steady and predictable.”

During the markup on the bill, an amendment was offered by Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) to increase funding for NIH by $1 billion. The full committee rejected this amendment by a vote of 2 yes to 28 no votes.

Within NIH is the

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering

FY 2010 appropriation: $316.4 million
FY 2011 Administration request: $325.9 million
House subcommittee recommendation: Unknown, pending release of committee report.
Senate full committee recommendation: $325.4 million, an increase of $9.0 million or 2.8 percent above this year.

The Senate committee report stated:

“Bone Disease- The Committee encourages research on bone diseases and disorders utilizing bone imaging. The Committee further encourages the Institute to use engineering strategies to replace and regenerate bone and soft tissue affected by trauma.”