The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) called for a 10% increase in the budget for the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) in its testimony to the U.S. House Appropriations Committee. NIGMS is the largest funder of fundamental biomedical research, but its budget usually represents only 6% of the total NIH budget. The ASBMB argues that a 10% boost for NIGMS is long overdue and essential to continue supporting and advancing the groundbreaking research and training programs funded by NIGMS. In addition, the NIGMS awards more than 25% of NIH diversity supplements, making it a leader in promoting diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in scientific research. The ASBMB opposes Biden’s NIH funding request, which proposed a meager 1.7% increase for all NIH funding, citing its negative impact on NIGMS. The society recommended $3.52 billion for the NIH NIGMS, $8.9 billion for the Office of Science at the DOE, and $12 billion for the NSF, calling for reliable, sustained investments in scientific funding.
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) submitted a testimony to the U.S. House Appropriations Committee on March 22 to outline its recommended budgets for major scientific funding agencies. Notably, the society requested a significant 10% increase in the budget for the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The ASBMB argues that a big boost for NIGMS is long overdue and calls for the increase.
NIGMS is the largest funder of fundamental biomedical research, as well as biomedical research training programs to support the bioeconomy and its workforce. NIGMS awards more than 11% of NIH research grants, yet its budget usually represents only 6% of the total NIH budget. Over the past decade, the NIGMS budget has increased only 21%, whereas other institutes such as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have received more than a 40% increase. Therefore, the ASBMB argues that a 10% boost for NIGMS is modest in comparison and is long overdue.
According to Sarina Neote, public affairs director of the ASBMB, the rising cost of science has made research difficult for their members and all scientists. She added that appropriators must not only adjust the NIH budgets to keep up with inflation but also invest in the scientists leading the way in areas like biotechnology, biophysics, and molecular biology who have a home in NIGMS and NIGMS-funded labs.
The NIGMS is an established leader in funding excellent, innovative scientific researchers and has supported 60% of NIH-funded Nobel laureates. In addition, the NIGMS is a leading institute funding biotechnology and bioengineering research, which is one of President Joe Biden’s priorities as evidenced by his recent executive order “Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy.”
The ASBMB has a longstanding history of advocating for NIGMS and its researchers, and the majority of its members are funded by and rely on NIGMS to advance their research. Therefore, the society argues that a 10% budget increase for NIGMS is essential to continue supporting and advancing the groundbreaking research and training programs funded by NIGMS.
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) awards more than 25% of NIH diversity supplements across the 32 centers and institutes at the NIH, making it a leader in promoting diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in scientific research. The funder intends to prioritize these values, according to the NIH’s recent requests for information, with NIGMS leading the way.
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) also expressed its support for Biden’s proposed increases in the budgets for the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy in a recent statement. However, the society opposed Biden’s NIH funding request, which proposed a meager 1.7% increase for all NIH funding, citing its negative impact on NIGMS.
The ASBMB recommended $3.52 billion for the NIH NIGMS, $8.9 billion for the Office of Science at the DOE, and $12 billion for the NSF, calling Biden’s NIH budget request “disappointing.” The society believes that under Biden’s budget, the NIGMS would have to reduce funding for research project grants to offset inflation, leading to scientists abandoning their projects. Thus, the society believes that the U.S. research enterprise needs reliable, sustained investments in scientific funding, and Biden’s proposed budget for NIH falls short.
In addition, the ASBMB recommended increasing the DOE Office of Science budget to support research in clean energy, climate change, emerging technologies, and more. The society’s recommendation is similar to Biden’s proposed 13.6% increase, which will fund biological and environmental research.
The ASBMB also showed support for continued funding for NSF that specifically bolsters the CHIPS and Science Act. Its recommendation aligned with the 18.61% increase in Biden’s proposed budget. The society believes that this will “re-energize scientific research and training supported by the NSF” and “ensure the U.S. remains a global leader in innovation.”
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