THE PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT OF FUNDS The professional judgment of funds that could be effectively applied to this appropriation exceeds the President's budget by $1,200,000. This request would be used as follows: Fellowships (international postdoctoral) International postdoctoral fellowships have been awarded since 1958 to promising foreign scientists for training and biomedical research. The progran provides benefits to the United States and to other countries. While it undoubtedly builds research capabilities in other countries, it in turn enriches American research. This program strengthens postgraduate training in the biomedical sciences in the United States by enabling foreign investigators to share ideas and background with American investigators. Training in laboratories in the United States often has the effect of stimulating a long-term interest on the part of the foreign investigator in health problems of concern to the American people, an interest which the investigator carries back with him to his own country where he will continue research on similar problems. International fellowships enhance opportunities for future collaborative research and help to strengthen research environments to which American scientists may later go for specialized training. In some countries, the leaders of the scientific community may for the first time become seriously interested in research as a result of the activities of international fellows upon their return to their home countries. Indeed, many of these fellows themselves become leaders. A generation of young foreign scientists who have had, during the most formative period of their careers, research training experiences in the United States, have had the opportunity to learn the "American approach" in medical research. This approach features the flexibility and informality of medical research organization and training. The American approach enjoys a prestige throughout the world paralleled by few other aspects of American culture. As young foreign scientists move into positions of leadership in their own country, American methods are introduced. In each of the 43 countries which participate in the international postdoctoral fellowship program, there is a nominating committee which selects from among the applications submitted to them, nominees up to a maximum set by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Nominations are then reviewed in competition with each other by the International Fellowship Review Committee at NIH, and after being given priority scores are awarded up to the limit of available funds. Last year, out of 140 applications considered deserving by the review committee, only 106 were pald because funds were depleted. Since 1965 a new policy has been in effect to give continuations of 6 months to 1 year to fellows who have successfully completed their first year of fellowship tenure. This change, established primarily because of an advisory committee recommendation, is made to take advantage of the most productive time of a fellow in his scientific training. It is estimated that in fiscal 1967, 200 applications for support will be received. Because the screening mechanisms of the country nominating committee is most selective, a high rate of approvals by the fellowship review committee may be expected. The average cost of an international postdoctoral fellowship is $9.500 per year. Acceptance of these new approvals and selected continuations will cost $2,400,000. Regular program, $20,340,000.-An amount of $20,340,000 over that provided in the President's budget for the regular grant program could effectively be used to expand research programs in the major health sciences, particularly in biophysical and biochemical fields as applied to fundamental and significant biomedical problems such as protein biosynthesis and bioenergetics. This amount would support only the most meritorious of programed health-related projects from a backlog on hand of about $15 million of approved but unfunded applications. It would also allow for a modest, planned expansion in other areas of subsidiary but direct program responsibility. Special effort will be put into the development of new concepts and methodologies applicable to analytical biochemistry of macromolecules, the perfection of ultra-high resolution microscopy, and the human genetics of primitive populations. Increased emphasis now would be given to applied research in trauma and wound healing, and in comprehensive multidisciplinary studies in pharmacology and upon the effects of toxic chemicals within biological systems. Scientific evaluation, $155,000.-An increase of $155,000 would provide support for expected escalated costs related to the DRG advisory groups and the NIGMS program project committee. This increase would be utilized to permit the establishment of new study sections, provide the means for members of existing study sections to conduct a greater number of project visits as a direct result of increased workload. Categorical clinical centers, $1,750,000.-The increase of $1,750,000 would provide support of two regional centers in anesthesiology and a diagnostic radiology center. Areas of research that are important for the development and progress of anesthesiology would be the following: cardiosvascular physiology in relation to anesthesia, the mechanism of action of anesthetic agents upon Deuromuscular transmission, metabolic effects of anesthetic agents and methods and the development of new anesthetic agents. The centers for anesthesiology would provide a stable organizational framework for clinical and laboratory investigation, teaching and patient care. The center would be staffed by specialists from all clinical disciplines and the sciences basic to medicine necessary for a comprehensve attack on problems of anesthesiology. These specialists would have at their disposal all necessary diagnostic, treatment, and rewarch equipment and resources. The center would also provide bed support for the patients under investigation as part of their total care. B. Fellowships, difference of $,7,014,000 This amount would be used to provide additional research manpower in the biomedical and related sciences. Approximately $6 million of this difference would support meritorious applications which are expected to be approved but unfunded in 1966. The $7,014,000 would be effectively utilized in the predoctoral, postdoctoral, special and research career programs with special emphasis on training in certain disciplines such as pharmacology-toxicology, anesthesiology, diagnostic radiology, and experimental surgery, all of which are currently undermanned. Predoctoral: An increase of $2,924,00 over the President's budget would provide support for approximately 490 additional awards in this program. Postdoctoral: The increase of $1,780,000 would provide support for 245 postdoctoral fellows. Special: The increase of $1,369,000 would permit the support of 103 mature scientists who require further specialized training or knowledge of new techniques. Research career development: An increase of $941,000 would provide support for 47 awards in the basic science areas and certain clinical sciences such as anesthesiology, diagnostic radiology, and surgery. C. Training, difference of $10.823,000 The graduate training program of this Institute increases the number of qualified personnel in the basic medical and clinical sciences. This increase would provide the necessary growth in research training in order to approach the acknowledged manpower needs of the Nation. These additional funds would be utilized to fund the most meritorious and program oriented of the approximately $6 million approved but unfunded applications currently on hand and permit special emphasis in emerging fields of interest such as clinical research, surgery, anesthesiology, biomedical engineering, and biomathematics. The medical scientists' training program would be increased to provide better trained medical research scientists in the future. 2. DIRECT OPERATIONS A. Direct research, increase of 15 positions and $600,000 There is an urgent need for the establishment of a model for university-based centers in the underdeveloped field of pharmacology for research and training in the biomedical sciences related to this field. We propose to initiate an intramural research program by establishing a small laboratory in biochemical or molecular phamarcology which would be concerned with the study of drugs from the standpoint of the activity of general classes of drugs, the site of molecular structure which determines drug action, and the enzymatic structure of the body for enhancement of activity, detoxification, and metabolism of drugs of various general types. This laboratory would fit gracefully into the extramural program in pharmacology-toxicology and would provide research facilities for the program director of the program. The laboratory would be staffed to perform studies of drug classes of major interest to the NIH and to the country as a whole. B. Collaborative studies, difference of one position and $600,000 This increase would be utilized to increase the activities currently conducted by contract. Specific areas in which such increases would be effectively utilized are pharmacology-toxicology, development of instrumentation for needed areas of research such as electron and optical microscopy, trauma, multiple hormone assays, and for indepth evaluation studies of ongoing and proposed programs. This increase would also support an additional position in contract administration. C. Training activities, difference of 11 positions and $121,000 The increase would effectively support this intramural training program in the fields of pharmacology-toxicology. The program is in its second year and and plans to add 10 additional research associates annually through fiscal year 1968 for a maximum of 30 associates in the program. This increase would also provide for an additional position on the training staff. At the present time all of the currently authorized positions are filled or committed. In addition we have 18 candidates, from which 10 will be selected to begin training on July 1, 1966. D. Review and approval of grants, difference of 30 positions and $303,000 This increase would support 14 positions to fill shortages of personnel which have persisted for the past several years in all the organizational segments of this activity. The present staffing is insufficient to properly and efficiently adminis ter the current grants program. This shortage applies particularly to the professional staff, but the supporting staff of fiscal and clerical personnel also s augmentation. The remaining 16 new positions would be commensurate with the increases proposed for the three grants programs and permit adequate Sevelopment of specific program areas in both basic and clinical sciences. Provision of a relative increase for reimbursement to the NIH management find is not included. [ Program direction, difference of 19 positions and $199,000 This increase would be used to support 19 new positions in this activity. The Ece of the Director would be strengthened by 11 additional positions to provide re effective planning, programing and coordination of the Institute objectres as well as overall administration. The remaining eight positions would enable the Program Analysis Branch to ively augment its accumulation and analysis of data on the Institute's grant programs. Provision of a relative increase for reimbursement to the NIH management fand is not included. It is the professional judgment of the Division of Biologics Standards that the Present's budget provides funds which will permit the Division to carry out basic responsibilities. However, additional funds in the amount of $500,000 cocid be effectively utilized, if these were available. The Division's activity in oncogenic research is expanding in 1967 to provide urces for a comprehensive program concerning oncogenic factors in relation to biologic products. This is an important field of research which requires close attention. The Division's professional judgment is that a program at a level of million would accomplish this. An additional $300,000 would bring the progrim to this desired level. The Division's occupancy of its new annex in 1967 will provide for expansion of Laboratory facilities and better utilization of space in both buildings. Extenve renovation of the present building is provided for in the President's budget. However, the Division could utilize $200,000 for reequipping this space since a portion of the present equipment will be moved to the annex. 61-548-66-pt. 4—5 1 The amounts included under the "Professional judgment" column represent an increase of $3,450, in the regular program over the 1967 President's budget. The programs identified in this document do represent a request for additional funds; they merely indicate how the National Institute of Child Hea and Human Development would use these funds if the Congress made them available through the 1 appropriations. Training grants, $1,700,000 1. GRANTS This amount could effectively be used to provide the continuation and intensi cation of programs initiated in 1966. We have projected at approximately 20-percent-growth rate which we consider to represent the amount needed maintain a continuing program requirement. With the advent of the mental retardation centers alone, the need for resear trained pediatricians, neurologists, social workers, psychologists, nutritionist speech and hearing consultants, and psychiatrists has quite appropriately plac the responsibility for supplying these demands on NICHD. The number of scientists whose research activities are devoted primarily an understanding of the causes, prevention, and treatment of mental retardati is difficult to assess. Unquestionably, scientific investigations in basic geneti biochemistry, neurology, learning, and behavior may produce insights releva to mental retardation. The occurrence of these insights, however, cannot be pi dicted. To insure the more direct application of research skills to this proble and to carry out the legislative mandate for solutions to this blight on our hum resources, newer, more imaginative, and more flexible approaches to resear manpower needs must be undertaken. The development of strongly supported aging centers is another area of equ importance. 2. DIRECT OPERATIONS Direct research—Aging research programs, 35 positions and $750,000 To provide staff for the aging program which would be used to provide t competence required to manage the present national research effort in agi and to improve the efforts in new intramural research projects. These po tions would be distributed among the aging research programs and used to purs research involving studies to examine in detail the physiological changes in t relatively healthy normal adult on both a cross sectional and longitudinal bas The precursor physiological changes of late life pathology would be examin in a number of critical organ systems; e.g., vascular, nervous, endocrine, a respiratory. As part of the transfer of the Gerontology Branch to the National Institu of Child Health and Human Development, we have assumed responsibility f completing construction and for equipping the new gerontology research bui ing; $250,000 would be used for specialized equipment to equip the laborato building. Positions and funds would be used to strengthen and expand studi |