NIH/NIDCR Funding

Friends of NIDCR strives to ensure that Congress is committed to providing vital dental health services and supporting research initiatives to our nation.  This is accomplished through the proper funding of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).  A legislative update on the appropriations of funds to NIH and NIDCR is provided below.

Stimulus Progress in Jeopardy Warns FNIDCR:
President Donoff Testimony Calls for Increased Investment in NIDCR to Maintain Jobs, Confront Projected Budget Reductions
President Barack Obama released his FY2011 federal budget on Monday, February 1, 2010 that included modest increases for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). The administration’s FY2011 budget requests $32.098 billion for NIH, which is a $1 billion or 3.5 percent increase above the FY2010 enacted level of funding. Also, the FY2011 budget provides $423,511,000 for NIDCR, which is a $10.275 million or 2.48 percent increase above the FY2010 enacted level.

FNIDCR welcomes the modest increases in funding, but is concerned the increases are not enough to sustain the medical research projects and jobs created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). (See letter to President Obama.)

FNIDCR President: Reverse Downward Trend of NIDCR’s Percentage of Total NIH Funding

Friends of NIDCR President Dr. Bruce Donoff submitted public witness testimony for the record to the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies on April 16, 2010.  The testimony called for an increase of Fiscal Year 2011 funding for NIDCR to a level of $480 million.

Although President Barack Obama’s FY2011 budget requests a 2.48% increase for NIDCR above FY2010’s appropriated level, to $423,511,000, FNIDCR President Dr. Donoff outlined three main reasons why the increase is an inadequate one going forward.

1. It is not enough to sustain the job creation and biomedical research initiated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (economic stimulus package).
   
   
2. There are projected budget reductions for NIH and its Institutes in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 that would reduce funding to FY08 levels of the previous administration.
   
   
3. Although NIH’s budget has doubled since 1998, NIDCR’s budget has not.  In fact, NIDCR’s percentage of total NIH funding has decreased 13% since 1998, from 1.53% to 1.33%, its lowest percentage in a decade.

“While we appreciate the modest increase for NIDCR funding in fiscal year 2011, and the unprecedented ‘shot in the arm’ provided by the stimulus, we seek a return to a funding level where NIDCR’s percentage of total NIH funding was 1.53 percent,” said Dr. Donoff.  “We contend this funding level will properly address our core concerns with the current level of funding.”

In addition, the testimony presents the benefits of NIDCR research to all facets of society, how it makes a difference in people’s lives, and how it stimulates economic activity.

Click here to read the full testimony.

See NIDCR's FY 2011 Congressional Justification.

Want to Help Raise the Funding Level for NIDCR? Add Your Voice!
Contact Your Senators and U.S. Representative today and urge them to support and advance oral health, dental and craniofacial research in the Fiscal Year 2011 Federal Budget by:

1. Telling your member of Congress that you are a constituent from ______ [city/town].
2. Urge funding NIDCR at $442million.
3. This funding level allows medical and scientific research initiated by the temporary stimulus funding, which expires at the end of FY10, to continue in: salivary diagnostics, cleft lip/cleft palate studies, and addressing oral health disparities nationwide.
4. Saying “Thank You” for your legislator’s interest in advancing and supporting federally-funded dental and craniofacial research.

Budget Report

FY2010
The FY2010 Appropriation provides $413.2 million for NIDCR; see the table below for the distribution budget mechanism. Regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), NIDCR was allotted $101.8 million. Of this amount, less than one million remains to be obligated or committed.

FY2011
The President's Budget Request would provide $423.5 million for NIDCR. See the table below for the distribution by budget mechanism; the complete NIDCR budget justification to Congress may be viewed here.

Find your members of Congress at:  www.house.gov  or  www.senate.gov.

If you have additional questions, please contact our legislative director Andrew Kaffes at legislative@fnidcr.org.