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Evolution of Medicine: US Investment in Health Research

his edition of “Evolution of Medicine” uses data from Research!America to explore US investment in health research in 2002 and 2004. The complete study is available at www.researchamerica.org/advocacy/ healthresearchinvestment.html.

From 2002 to 2004, the amount of money contributed to US health research increased by 18 percent. The Graph compares the investment in health research in millions of dollars from four main contributors:

  • Industry, which represents the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical technology industries.
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH).
  • Other, which represents university institutional funds, state and local government contributions, philanthropic foundations, voluntary health associations, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (in 2002 only).
  • The Federal Government (not including NIH), representing the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Department of the Interior, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Commerce, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Homeland Security, and Agency for International Development.

It is important to note that this increase is not due to only one sector. Instead, each of the four categories dedicated more money for health research in 2004 than in 2002.

Industry continues to be the primary source of funding in 2004, providing 54 percent of total investment. NIH remains the leading contributor from the federal government, providing 74 percent of the federal dollars and 26 percent of the total investment in health research. The institutions and constituents that comprise the “other” category contributed more funds in 2004 than in 2002, but only accounted for 11 percent of total estimated health research expenditures in 2004, compared to 12 percent in 2002, as the other sectors increased their own investments by greater monetary values. Federal agencies other than NIH accounted for only nine percent of the total investment in health research in 2004.

For more information, please contact AAIM Operations Assistant Ellen Turner at (202) 861-9351 or eturner@im.org.