The Future of Biomedical Research

Abstract

THE COMMUNITY OF BIOMEDICAL RESEARCHERS IS ANXious, if not downright depressed, about the future, and there is good reason for this pessimism. For decades the importance of biomedical research was a reliable pillar of bipartisan agreement, as evidenced by the continuous high levels of funding that both parties have sustained during the last 3 presidential administrations. From the beginning of President Clinton’s first term to the end of President George W. Bush’s second term, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget more than tripled, increasing from $8.9 billion to $29.6 billion. Cumulatively, over the last 15 years, the federal government has spent more than $385 billion in funding for biomedical research through the NIH—despite 2 wars and a turbulent economy. Yet to many observers, the future appears bleak. This coming year, there will almost certainly be no increase in NIH funding. Moreover, sequestration means that the NIH will actually lose approximately 5.1% of its current level of funding, or about $1.55 billion. Bipartisan support has all but evaporated, and biomedical research is quickly becoming just another partisan issue. How did this reversal of fortunes occur? Is there anything the biomedical research community can do about it?