From progress to regression: biomedical research funding.
Despite great advances in health-related research and health care, major challenges remain regarding the causes and cures of many diseases; these may be overcome with further research. Our society is enthusiastic about fostering such investigations. However, available federal funds limit many such projects. Previously there have been sizable increases in the NIH budget, but because of the escalating cost of scientific investigation and the pressures of financing other much-needed governmental programs, recent growth in biomedical research funding has barely kept up with inflation. This article focuses on select attempts to sustain the record of scientific achievement enabled in the past by continued increasing investment and also suggests some solutions.
Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA. phmhgm@gwumc.edu
H George
HG
Mandel
Elliot S
ES
Vesell
D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000191:economics*; D002017:Budgets; D005380:Financing, Government; D006801:Humans; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.) / Q000191:economics*; D010380:Peer Review; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D014481:United States