CANCER LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

FY 2001 FUNDING FOR NIH:
INCREASES FOR NIH AND NCI NECESSARY
TO SUSTAIN RESEARCH PROGRESS
(May, 2000)

More than 1.2 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer during 2000, and more than 550,000 people will lose their lives to these diseases. Individuals with cancer, their friends and families, and their caregivers support a substantial increase in the budgets of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to fund cancer research. Research advances are the only hope for many people with cancer currently without curative therapy.

The Cancer Leadership Council (CLC) recommends the following actions:

• Increase funding for NIH by 15 percent in FY 2001. In order to capitalize on the last decade's investment in basic research, Congress has determined that the NIH budget should be doubled in the five years leading up to 2003. A 15 percent increase in the overall NIH budget will sustain progress toward the Congressional target of doubling the NIH budget. The potential for translating basic research findings into improved treatments is greater than ever before, but successful utilization of all research opportunities will require continued commitment to the enhanced funding target for NIH.

• Fund NCI according to the Bypass Budget, or at a level of $4.1 billion. Cancer research presents special opportunities, as identified and detailed in the NCI Bypass Budget, and NCI should be funded above the substantial 15 percent increase granted to NIH. Funding at the level of $4.1 billion would allow NCI to expand important and productive research programs, capitalize on recent discoveries, and revamp the clinical trials program to allow greater patient participation.