Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 22, 2026
12:42
Microfluidic Mixers for Studying Protein Folding
Published on: April 10, 2012
Federal support of research in the life sciences
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|July 26, 1957
Summary
Federal funding for life sciences research grew between 1952-1955, with basic biological sciences seeing significant increases. However, non-basic research received a larger proportion of the total funding in 1955.
Area of Science:
- Life Sciences Research Funding
- Federal Grants and Contracts
- Biological Sciences
Background:
- Federal support for life sciences research expanded from 1952 to 1955.
- The study analyzes trends in federal funding allocation for scientific research during this period.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the growth of federal support for contract and grant research in the life sciences.
- To analyze the proportion of funding allocated to basic biological sciences versus other research activities.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of federal funding data for contract and grant research.
- Comparison of funding allocations between 1952, 1954, and 1955.
- Categorization of research expenditures into basic and non-basic research.
Main Results:
- Overall federal funding for life sciences research increased by 28% between 1954 and 1955.
- Funding for basic biological sciences rose from $18 million in 1952 to $30 million in 1955.
- Non-basic research activities accounted for $52 million in 1955, representing a larger proportion of total funding than in 1954.
Conclusions:
- While absolute funding for basic life sciences research increased, its relative share of the total federal research budget decreased in 1955.
- Federal funding agencies prioritize problem- and program-oriented research objectives.
