Bethesda, MD — Thomas M. Burton reports in The Wall Street Journal that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) said it would begin redirecting up to about $1.1 billion in research-grant money a year to early- and midcareer scientists to help boost their careers and preserve U.S. science.
The agency said it would begin the redistribution immediately with about $210 million annually, but that the amount would steadily increase over five years to about $1.1 billion a year.
The federal medical-research agency, which has an annual budget of just over $34 billion, said it is taking the steps to encourage younger researchers to stay in science and in the U.S.
The Trump administration has said it is seeking to cut the NIH budget by more than 20%, although leading congressional members of both parties have said they plan to fight for increases, not cuts, to the NIH budget.
The agency said it would begin the redistribution immediately with about $210 million annually, but that the amount would steadily increase over five years to about $1.1 billion a year.
The federal medical-research agency, which has an annual budget of just over $34 billion, said it is taking the steps to encourage younger researchers to stay in science and in the U.S.
The Trump administration has said it is seeking to cut the NIH budget by more than 20%, although leading congressional members of both parties have said they plan to fight for increases, not cuts, to the NIH budget.
NIH Director Francis Collins, in a conference call with reporters, said, “Our concern is that the next generation of researchers is under stress.”
“We are going to do this immediately,” said Lawrence A. Tabak, the NIH’s principal deputy director, at a meeting Thursday of advisers to Dr. Collins.
Over about the last 10 years, according to NIH data, the percentage of early-stage researchers 45 years-old and under, and of mid-stage scientists 46 to 60 who receive NIH grants has fallen.
The percentage rate of funding for older investigators, meanwhile, has increased. The agency said these rates are “not solely due to baby boom demographics,” a reference to the population bulge in the older generation.
For the full story, click here.
“We are going to do this immediately,” said Lawrence A. Tabak, the NIH’s principal deputy director, at a meeting Thursday of advisers to Dr. Collins.
Over about the last 10 years, according to NIH data, the percentage of early-stage researchers 45 years-old and under, and of mid-stage scientists 46 to 60 who receive NIH grants has fallen.
The percentage rate of funding for older investigators, meanwhile, has increased. The agency said these rates are “not solely due to baby boom demographics,” a reference to the population bulge in the older generation.
For the full story, click here.
