NIH Chemistry Funding Losing Ground Relative to Other Disciplines

Abstract

Although the National Institutes of Health has long been a major funding source for chemical research, the exact amount of chemistry funding has been difficult to determine because NIH doesn't break out research funding figures by disciplines. However, a recently conducted analysis of NIH's fiscal 1986 budget reveals a chemistry research funding total of almost $140 million, according to Jerome G. Green, director of NIH's division of research grants. Green spoke at a symposium on issues in funding of chemical research and education, sponsored by the Division of Chemical Education. The chemistry research funding amounted to 2.7% of NIH's total $5.3 billion budget, Green says. In comparison, the National Science Foundation's chemistry division provided a total of $85.8 million in fiscal 1986, whereas all NSF funding for programs involving at least some chemical research totaled $198 million. According to Green, the $140 million in NIH chemistry funding includes $135 million for 1153 research grants, $2.6 ...