Financial anatomy of biomedical research
Hamilton Moses1, E Ray Dorsey, David H M Matheson
1The Alerion Institute, North Garden, Va 22959, USA. hm@alerion.us
JAMA
|September 22, 2005
Summary
Biomedical research funding significantly increased from 1994 to 2003, with industry becoming the largest sponsor. Greater focus is needed on translating basic science to clinical applications and evaluating research value.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical research funding analysis
- Health economics
- Research investment strategies
Background:
- Public and private funding for biomedical research has grown substantially.
- Limited comprehensive analyses of funding sources and uses hinder informed investment decisions.
- Unequal latitude in exploring hypotheses creates barriers to judging societal research value.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify funding trends for basic, translational, and clinical biomedical research in the United States from 1994 to 2004.
- To identify principal sponsors of biomedical research.
- To analyze the allocation of funds across different research types.
Main Methods:
- Compilation of publicly available data from government, foundations, charities, universities, and industry.
- Supplementation of public data with proprietary databases.
- Inflation adjustment of total research spending and growth rates.
Main Results:
- Biomedical research funding surged from $37.1 billion in 1994 to $94.3 billion in 2003, doubling when inflation-adjusted.
- Industry (57%) and the National Institutes of Health (28%) were the primary sponsors in 2003.
- Industry sponsorship of clinical trials saw a significant real-terms increase, while federal funding for basic and applied research remained stable.
Conclusions:
- Improving research productivity and benefit evaluation are critical challenges.
- Effective translation of basic science to clinical practice is essential.
- Investment decisions should prioritize clinical need alongside commercial opportunity, requiring better data on research fund sources and uses.
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