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NIH Primary and Secondary Prevention Research in Humans During 2012-2017
David M Murray1, Jennifer Villani1, Ashley J Vargas1
1Office of Disease Prevention, NIH, Rockville, Maryland.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
|November 22, 2018
Summary
Analysis of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) research portfolio reveals that only 16.7% of projects and 22.6% of funding support primary and secondary prevention research in humans. Increased investment in intervention research is warranted given its impact on life expectancy.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
- Biomedical Research Funding
Background:
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds a vast portfolio of research projects.
- Understanding the allocation of these funds towards disease prevention is crucial for public health.
- Primary and secondary prevention research in humans is vital for reducing disease burden.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct the first detailed analysis of the NIH's prevention research portfolio.
- To categorize NIH-funded projects related to primary and secondary prevention in humans and methods research.
- To assess the proportion of NIH funding dedicated to prevention research over a defined period.
Main Methods:
- A taxonomy of 128 topics was developed by the Office of Disease Prevention.
- The taxonomy was applied to 11,082 new NIH projects funded between fiscal years 2012-2017.
- Project data was collected and analyzed between 2016-2018.
Main Results:
- Only 16.7% of projects and 22.6% of funding were allocated to primary and secondary prevention research in humans.
- Major risk factors for death and disability were addressed in less than 5% of projects.
- Observational studies and analyses of existing data were more common than randomized intervention trials.
Conclusions:
- The current level of support for human prevention research within the NIH portfolio may be insufficient.
- Given the significant impact of risk factors on life expectancy, increased resources for intervention research are recommended.
- Further investment in developing and testing interventions targeting established risk factors is crucial.
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