The Importance of Funding for NIH and FDA

JDRF is the leading global organization funding T1D research, with a mission to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat T1D and its complications. One of the important ways JDRF advances its mission is to ensure the Federal government is investing in T1D research. JDRF drives efforts to ensure the Special Diabetes Program (SDP), which contributes $150 million annually to T1D research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), receives continued strong funding every time the program is up for renewal. JDRF also continually monitors and advocates for strong annual Federal funding for the NIH and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).**

Current funding status

The NIH is funded currently at $45 billion for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) which is a $2 billion increase over FY21. The FDA is funded currently at $6.3 billion, a $170 million increase over FY21.

The NIH and FDA play a vital role in bringing life-changing therapies to market, and they must be funded at the highest possible level. JDRF is a part of several broad coalitions that share this belief:

• Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research—a coalition of more than 300 patient and health advocacy organizations, and research institutions.
• Alliance for a Stronger FDA—an organization that unites patient groups, consumer advocates, biomedical research advocates, health professionals and industry in support of increased appropriations for the FDA.

*The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the government agency that administers Federal funding for medical research across the country and around the world. Within the NIH, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is the lead institute for coordinating and conducting research to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. In addition to administering the Special Diabetes Program (SDP) funds, NIDDK (and other institutes within the NIH) awards grants on a competitive basis with funding the NIH receives from Congress annually through the annual appropriations process.

**The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is tasked with assuring the safety, efficacy and security of drugs, biologics, and medical devices, including artificial pancreas technology and other new diabetes therapies. JDRF and the T1D community have a vested interest in the actions of the FDA and its funding levels as new treatments will require FDA review and approval before becoming available.