The sequestration cuts that loom on the horizon if Congress continues to fail at finding a plan to cut the federal deficit were also a big concern raised by Harkin, one that Collins said was well founded. If the cuts kick in, the NIH stands to face a 7.8 percent budget cut, losing nearly $2.4 billion in funding, a loss that Collins said would result in roughly 2,300 grants being lost in 2013, representing almost a quarter of the estimated new and competing grants. Several emerging projects with significant potential “would be put at great risk.”  

 

While differences of opinion were obvious in terms of where additional funds should be taken from, there was definite support of the work the NIH does and the positive effects the organization continues to have on both the economy and biomedical industry. Harkin called NIH “one of the great institutions of this country,” thanking the directors for their leadership and noting that “because of all of you, America is a world leader in biomedical research.”

 

“Generally speaking, and I think this is the administration’s point of view as well, were it not for the fiscal constraints under which our country is currently operating, I think there has been historically—and regardless of administration in and administration out—there has always been very, very strong support for the National Institutes of Health and biomedical research,” says White. “And over and over again, individual members from both parties express that view.”