Which extramural scientists were funded by the US National Institutes of Health from its ARRA funds?

Abstract

The US National Institutes of Health distributed US$10 billion of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) research funds among principal investigators (PIs) in 2009–10. We studied how well the program created and retained jobs. To analyze the distribution of ARRA funding among PIs, we categorized them on the basis of their history of research funding, and the type of funding (ARRA and non-ARRA), each received in 2009 and 2010. These classifications provide insights into who received ARRA funding and how many research PI jobs were created or retained. We found that most recipients of ARRA awards already had grants and that new and retained PIs received relatively small shares of ARRA funds. Of 13,000 PIs, only 3,000 were created or retained, while the other 10,000 received additional funding. The ARRA was more efficient in creating PIs than the comparable budget doubling period. But, the PI job effect did not last.