Appropriate Funding for the National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering and the National Cancer Institute
Election-year politics and growing federal budget constraints have slowed the appropriations process this legislative session. Nevertheless, early numbers suggest budget increases for two important funding sources of radiology research—the National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In July, the full House Appropriations Committee approved a fiscal year 2005 budget of more than $297 million for the NIBIB, reflecting an increase of more than $10.5 million over last year's funding level. The budget also includes $4.870 billion for the NCI, an increase of $130.7 million.
The committee's proposed funding increases follow a successful 5-year effort to double the NIH budget. ACR, working closely with the Academy of Radiology Research, remains diligent in its efforts to maximize appropriations that would benefit radiology research and is seeking new sources of radiology research funding within other institutes of the NIH.