Disparities in NIH funding for epilepsy research

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Health Services Research
• Medical Funding

Background:

• Six major neurologic diseases, including Alzheimer disease, ALS, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, and stroke, impose significant burdens on US citizens.
• Understanding the allocation of research funding is crucial for addressing the public health impact of these conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the relative prevalence and NIH funding levels for six major neurologic disorders.
• To identify and quantify disparities in research funding relative to disease prevalence.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORT).
• Incorporated recently assembled prevalence estimates for six major neurologic diseases.
• Calculated and compared NIH funding levels adjusted for disease prevalence.

Main Results:

• Epilepsy research is funded at a persistently lower rate compared to other major neurologic disorders when adjusted for prevalence.
• In 2010, NIH funding for other disorders ranged from 1.7x (stroke) to 61.1x (ALS) greater than epilepsy, relative to prevalence.
• The observed funding disparity is not explained by differences in the overall impact of these diseases on US citizens.

Conclusions:

• A significant disparity exists in NIH funding for epilepsy research relative to its prevalence and impact.
• Greater transparency in the NIH review and funding processes is necessary to understand the reasons behind this disparity.
• Further investigation is warranted to ensure equitable research support for all major neurologic diseases.