[Plsfaculty] FW: Special Edition--From the Acting NIH Director: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)--NIH's role

[Donna-Rae Marquez]

FYI

  _____  

From: Discussion of Research Administrators' Issues
[mailto:RAMTALK at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of Sherry Esham
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 10:58 AM
To: RAMTALK at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Subject: Special Edition--From the Acting NIH Director: American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)--NIH's role

 

-----Original Message-----
From: COGR [mailto:cogr at usc.edu] 
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 9:00 PM
To: cogr-list at usc.edu
Subject: FW: Special Edition--From the Acting NIH Director: American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)--NIH's role

 

sender: Tony DeCrappeo <TDeCrappo at cogr.edu> 

The following was sent out from Raynard Kington, Acting Director of NIH:

 From the Acting NIH Director-

On Tuesday, February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the
American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the economic
stimulus, into law. This is an extraordinarily challenging time for our
entire country, and NIH is extremely grateful to President Obama and
Congress for recognizing both the economic and health impacts of
biomedical and behavioral research. The $10.4 billion of investment will
have an impact beyond the funding horizon of this Act, as it also
supports the economic stimulus.

We are well positioned to fund the best science in pursuit of improving
the length and the quality of the lives of our citizens, while at the
same time stimulating the economy of the 50 states and territories,
through more than 3,000 institutions we currently fund to conduct
outstanding biomedical and behavioral research-- institutions that have
a direct impact upon the local economies in their towns, cities, and
states.

The purpose of the ARRA is to:

(1)  preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery.

(2)  assist those most impacted by the recession.

(3)  provide investments to increase economic efficiency by spurring
technological advances in science and health.

(4)  invest in transportation, environmental protection, and other
infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits.

(5)  stabilize state and local government budgets, in order to minimize
and avoid reductions in essential services and counterproductive state
and local tax increases.

As we learned about NIH's possible inclusion in the national economic
recovery effort, we worked around the clock to prepare to make the most
effective use of these extraordinary resources. NIH grants support jobs
and the economy of local communities, and we are preparing to move the
funds quickly as we manage and track the impact on economic recovery, as
well as the progress on improving human health in a way that increases
transparency for the public.  We are waiting for guidance from the
Department of Health and Human Services and the White House, and no
funding decisions have been made. 

                    
NIH Funding

The stimulus bill provides a total of $10.4 billion, all available for
two years--through September 2010.  We expect to spend as much as
possible in FY 2009 to support the goals of the ARRA and advance
scientific priorities. (Note that none of these resources are added to
the NIH's future base funding level). Below is a summary:

-$8.2 billion in support of scientific research priorities

o       $7.4 billion is transferred to the Institutes and Centers and
Common Fund (CF), based on a percentage-based formula

o       $800 million to the Office of the Director (OD) (not including
CF)

                                    (For example, support for Challenge
Grants), a program designed to focus on health and science problems
where progress can be expected in two years.

o       To support additional scientific research-related activities
that also align with the overall purposes of the Act

-$1 billion to support Extramural Construction, Repairs, and Alterations

o       Allocated to the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
in support of all NIH funded research institutions

-$300 million for Shared Instrumentation and other capital equipment

o       Allocated to NCRR to support all NIH activities

-$500 million for NIH buildings and facilities

o       To fund high priority repair, construction and improvement
projects on NIH campuses that also align with the overall purpose of the
Act

-$400 million for Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER)

Many types of funding mechanisms will be supported, but, in general, NIH
will focus scientific activities in several areas:

1) We will choose among recently peer reviewed, highly meritorious R01
and similar mechanisms capable of making significant advances in two
years. R01 are projects proposed directly from scientists across the
country.

2) We will also fund new R01 applications that have a reasonable
expectation of making progress in two years.  The adherence to this time
frame is in direct response to the spirit of the law.

3) We will accelerate the tempo of ongoing science through targeted
supplements to current grants. For example, we may competitively expand
the scope of current research awards or supplement an existing award
with additional support for infrastructure (e.g., equipment) that will
be used in the two-year availability of these funds.

4) NIH anticipates supporting new types of activities that fit into the
structure of the ARRA. For example, it will support a reasonable number
of awards to jump start the new NIH Challenge Grant program. This
program is designed to focus on health and science problems where
progress can be expected in two years. The number of awards and amount
of funds will be determined, based on the scientific merit and the
quality of applications. I anticipate-out of the OD funds in the
ARRA--NIH will support at least $100 to $200 million-but the science
will drive the actual level.

5)  We will also use other funding mechanisms as appropriate.

The impact of this stimulus to scientists cannot be overstated. The
impact extends far beyond the current economic challenges and immediate
scientists who will receive funds, to allied health workers,
technicians, students, trade workers and others who will receive the
leveraged benefits.

We understand to accomplish the goals of ARRA, it will take the help of
the entire scientific community. Beyond the immediate economic stimulus,
the long-term impact from the science funded by the ARRA will have a
positive impact upon the health of the nation for years to come.

The ARRA is complex, with multi-layered reporting requirements.  NIH is
working with the Administration to ensure transparency and
accountability. In the near future, NIH will post information about its
role in the recovery and impact on RECOVERY.gov

 We are committed, with the outstanding support that has been given by
the White House, the Department, and Congress, to make our decisions
based on best scientific opportunity and public need. We will seek
projects with the broadest impact, work that can be accomplished in two
years, that relies heavily on our new streamlined, modernized peer
review system.  This is not a time for business as usual nor formulaic
solutions; this is a time for true innovation, energy, and recovery.

Again, NIH is grateful to all of you who will work with us to
successfully implement this important contribution to our national
health and economic recovery.

Please, contact me with any comments.  NIHKingtonDirect at mail.nih.gov

Raynard S. Kington, M.D., Ph.D., Acting Director, National Institutes of
Health

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://list.cals.arizona.edu/pipermail/plsfaculty/attachments/20090224/180d6efb/attachment.htm>