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Funding of US biomedical research, 2003-2008
E Ray Dorsey1, Jason de Roulet, Joel P Thompson
1Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA. ray.dorsey@ctcc.rochester.edu
JAMA
|January 14, 2010
Summary
Biomedical research funding in the US slowed significantly between 2003-2007, with inflation-adjusted NIH and industry funding decreasing in 2008. This slower growth did not correlate with increased drug or device approvals.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Research Funding Analysis
- Health Economics
- Research Policy
Background:
- US biomedical research funding experienced a decade of rapid growth, followed by an unknown slowdown.
- The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was an exception to this trend.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the sources and trends of US biomedical research funding from 2003 to 2008.
- To compare recent funding trends with historical data (1994-2003).
- To evaluate the relationship between funding and new drug/device approvals.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of government (federal, state, local), private, and industry funding sources.
- Regression modeling to compare financial trends between 1994-2003 and 2003-2007.
- Evaluation of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new drug and device approval numbers.
Main Results:
- Total biomedical research funding increased from $75.5 billion (2003) to $101.1 billion (2007).
- Inflation-adjusted annual growth rate slowed to 3.4% (2003-2007) from 7.8% (1994-2003).
- Industry was the largest funder (58% in 2007); funding increases did not correlate with more FDA approvals.
Conclusions:
- The rate of increase in US biomedical research funding slowed considerably between 2003 and 2007.
- Inflation-adjusted funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and industry showed a 2% decrease in 2008.
- Slower funding growth did not lead to an increase in drug or device approvals.
