oFK FELL. R | p>
oe uk U. pss
a “ASD

\ MAR 4 1305

    
   

THE WHITE HOUSE

 

WASHINGTON
February 28, 1985

Dear Dr. Lederberg:

Thank you for sharing with me your views on Federal
funding for the National Institutes of Health. As you
indicated, NIH has made dramatic contributions in expand-
ing our knowledge about preventing, detecting, diagnosing
and treating disease. My support for the remarkable efforts
of NIH-supported scientists was clear throughout my first
term and has been reiterated in the budget for 1986 that I
recently sent to the Congress. During my Administration,
funding for NIH has increased 44 percent. Continued
progress in biomedical research will indeed be an important
part of the Second American Revolution described in my
recent State of the Union Address. Including the $4.9
billion I have requested for 1986, Federal support for NIH
since I took office will exceed $20 billion.

My 1986 request for NIH reflects a strong commitment to
continued, sustainable support for biomedical research to
ensure long-term improvements in medical care and the
health of the American people. This is a goal we all share.
The Federal government will continue to provide an estimated
85 percent of the Nation's expenditures on health research,
primarily through NIH.

To ensure that such research will flourish in a stable
environment, NIH will continue to support 5,000 new and
competing research project grants in both 1985 and 1986.
Over 600 of the 1985 grants will also receive funding for
three years of support. Some reports have characterized
the policy of stability through multi-year funding as propos-
ing a rescission of NIH funds appropriated for FY85. This
is obviously not the case. Rather, this policy assures
continued progress in basic biomedical research during a
time when we must work vigorously to reduce the Federal
deficit. Total NIH-supported grants between 1983 and 1986
will exceed 68,000.
In a period when many other Federal programs face needed
reforms and terminations, support for NIH research efforts
will continue to grow during my Administration. But, as

the New York Times recently asked in an editorial, "must

the Government always be the source" of research? While
the past few years have seen a welcome and dramatic increase
in private support for biomedical research, my response is
that continued Federal support for a stabilized base of

5,000 new and competing awards is appropriate.

I ask your help in ensuring that this important policy of
research stability continues. Loss of such stability would
introduce an element of uncertainty that could restrict
further advances in biomedical research. We cannot afford
to take this chance,

Sincerely,

(Qiuta. Ragen

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
President

Rockefeller University
1230 York Avenue
New York, New York