2018 federal spending bill significantly increases research funding
By Alex Currie
Last week, a $1.3 trillion federal spending bill was unveiled that finalizes spending levels for federal agencies for the balance of federal fiscal year 2018. On Friday, March 23, President Donald Trump signed the bill into law.
The bill, H.R. 1625, provides a major boost to research funding for the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies to support a range of research programs, public health initiatives and other federal activities important to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Tennessee lawmakers who supported passage of the legislation are: U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, and U.S. Reps. Jim Cooper, Chuck Fleischmann, David Kustoff, and Phil Roe.
“We are grateful for the support of so many Tennessee lawmakers and their colleagues on Capitol Hill who recognize the importance of sustained federal investment in vitally important health care research,” said Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, Executive Vice President for Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and director of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
“This new spending bill which includes additional support for the National Institutes of Health and several other agencies will enable investigators to explore basic science research which is the linchpin of scientific discovery and a hallmark of America’s role as the world’s scientific leader. With the health of millions of patients at stake, this bill also provides support for young investigators with innovative ideas, and enhances funding to speed translational research into clinical use.”
A summary of some of the legislation’s provisions:
National Institutes of Health
The legislation provides $37.084 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a $3 billion or 8.8 percent increase over fiscal year 2017. Through this legislation the NIH has now seen three years of sizeable budget growth, a total of $7 billion in additional funding over this time.
The legislation includes $496 million from the 21st Century Cures Act Innovation Account, which entails:
- $100 million for the NIH Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI) All of Us Cohort (a $60 million increase);
- $300 million to National Cancer Institute for the Cancer Moonshot;
- $43 million to National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and National Institute of Mental Health for the BRAIN Initiative; and
- $10 million for regenerative medicine research.
Other funding highlights with the NIH:
- $542.8 million (a $26.65 million increase) for the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program.
- $500 million split evenly between NINDS and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for research related to opioid addiction, development of opioid alternatives, pain management, and addiction treatment.
- $350.6 million for Institutional Development Awards (IDeA).
- $1.83 billion in funding for Alzheimer’s disease research.
- $100 million for universal influenza vaccine research.
The NIH is also directed to develop a new trans-NIH initiative involving National Institute of Child and Human Development, National Institute on Aging and National Cancer Institute on trisomy 21/Down syndrome research.
The bill offers direction to the NIH on a number of policy matters, including:
- Language prohibiting the Administration from modifying NIH support for facilities and administrative expenses, also known as indirect costs.
- Retaining the current salary cap at Executive Level II of the federal pay scale for HHS grants.
- Calls for delay in enforcement of the new clinical trials policy published in September 2017, except for research projects that would have been considered clinical trials under the prior policy, until NIH can consult with the basic research community.
The spending agreement directs the NIH to ensure that “a funding increase above fiscal year 2017 is provided to every Institute and Center” and supports an “increase in the number of new and competing Research Project Grants.” Congress requested that the NIH “continue its focus on emerging investigators and first-time renewals of these young investigators with actions to significantly reduce the average age of an NIH-supported new investigator.”
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
The legislation provides $334 million for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). This represents a $10 million (3.1 percent) increase over the comparable FY 2017 funding level.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response received $1.6 billion, a $242.5 million increase, in the omnibus. The funding includes a $10 million increase to Hospital Preparedness Program grants.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The legislation provides $8.3 billion in total funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an $840 million increase over FY 17. This funding level includes:
- a $53.5 million increase in global health programs;
- $1.45 billion, a $45 million increase, for Public Health Preparedness and Response; and
- $648.6 million (a 127 percent increase) in Injury Prevention and Control, reflecting a boost to Opioid Overdose Prevention and Surveillance programs to a funding level of $475.6 million in FY 18.
DOD Congressionally Designated Medical Research Programs (CDMRP):
- $4 million Peer-reviewed alcohol and substance abuse disorders research
- $10 million Peer-reviewed ALS research
- $15 million Peer-reviewed Alzheimer research
- $7.5 million Peer-reviewed autism research
- $3 million Peer-reviewed bone marrow failure disease research
- $130 million Peer-reviewed breast cancer research
- $80 million Peer-reviewed cancer research
- $3.2 million Peer-reviewed Duchenne muscular dystrophy research
- $7.5 million Peer-reviewed epilepsy research
- $21 million Peer-reviewed gulf war illness research
- $10 million Peer-reviewed hearing restoration research
- $15 million Peer-reviewed kidney cancer research
- $14 million Peer-reviewed lung cancer research
- $5 million Peer-reviewed lupus research
- $330 million Peer-reviewed medical research
- $6 million Peer-reviewed multiple sclerosis research
- $30 million Peer-reviewed orthopedic research
- $20 million Peer-reviewed ovarian cancer research
- $100 million Peer-reviewed prostate cancer research
- $30 million Peer-reviewed spinal cord research
- $12 million Peer-reviewed reconstructive transplant research
- $5 million Peer-reviewed tick-borne disease research
- $125 million Peer-reviewed TBI and psychological health research
- $6 million Peer-reviewed tuberous sclerosis complex research
- $15 million Peer-reviewed vision research
- $8 million Global HIV/AIDS prevention
- $12 million HIV/AIDS program increase
- $50 million Joint warfighter medical research
- $10 million Orthotics and prosthetics outcome research
- $10 million Trauma clinical research program
Health Resources and Services Administration
The legislation provides a little over $7 billion for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Of that total, $645.7 million is allocated to Title VII and Title VIII healthcare workforce programs, a $102 million (19 percent) increase over the comparable FY 17 level.
The legislation funds Ryan White HIV/AIDS programs at $2.319 billion, equal to FY 17 levels.
The legislation also includes $105 million in new FY 18 appropriations for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) on top of the $310 million mandatory fund, bringing its total to $415 million, a 33.9 percent increase.
The legislation includes $32 million for the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program.
Veterans Affairs
The legislation includes $722 million for the Medical and Prosthetic Research program at the Department of Veterans Affairs, a $47 million (7 percent) increase. The omnibus also includes $8.4 billion in advance funding for Medical Community Care, but does not provide additional funding for the Veterans Choice program which is expected to run out of funds in early June.
For follow up questions regarding this summary please contact the VUMC Office of Federal Relations at 202-216-4366 or by emailing Alex Currie, VUMC’s Director of Federal Relations, at alex.currie@vanderbilt.edu .