Senate Subcommittee Supports Increases for NIH

The Senate Labor, Health, and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee reviewed and passed a bill funding NIH at $34 billion, a $2 billion increase over FY2016 funding. The bill increases funding for the BRAIN Initiative by $100 million to $250 million and increases funding for Alzheimer’s disease by $400 million to $1.39 billion. These increases in funding will facilitate investments in basic research that will allow researchers to take advantage of the scientific opportunities needed to combat the neurological diseases and disorders that affect over 100 million Americans each year. SfN applauds the Subcommittee Chairman Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) for prioritizing NIH funding and encourages the full Senate to pass the bill before the end of the fiscal year.