NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

1987 comparable appropriation

1988 appropriation request...

House allowance 1.

Committee recommendation....

This does not include $472,428,000 provided for AIDS in another section.

$6,190,698,000

5,612,837,000

6,563,857,000

6,876,104,000

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $6,876,104,000 for the National Institutes of Health [NIH]. This is $1,263,267,000 more than the administration request, $685,406,000 more than the fiscal year 1987 appropriation of $6,190,698,000, and $312,247,000 more than the House allowance, which does not include AIDS funding. These figures are shown in the table that follows:

NIH is the major biomedical research arm of the Federal Government. NIH seeks to improve the health of the American people, and, indeed, people throughout the world, by increasing the understanding of processes underlying human health, disability, and disease. The agency supports biomedical and behavioral research in facilities in this country and abroad, conducts research in its own laboratories, and trains promising young researchers for future work in the field.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome [AIDS]

The Committee has provided $467,928,000 for the AIDS-related activities of the National Institutes of Health. This is $45,500,000 more than the President's request and $215,445,000 more than the fiscal year 1987 estimate. The House provided $472,428,000 for the NIH AIDS program; however, the funds would be consolidated in a special account in the Office of the Secretary, DHHS. The Committee strongly recommends that the funds be appropriated directly to the responsible NIH components. The figures are shown in the table that follows:

1 Provided in a consolidated account in the Office of the Secretary.

Note: Numbers in parentheses ( ) are negative.

Without reservation, the Committee supports the importance that the NIH has assigned to its research program on AIDS. Research on the AIDS virus is the primary focus of this program. A major accomplishment during the past year was the identification of azidothymidine [AZT] and its earlier testing in patients.

The NIH has launched a new program of basic research in structural biology with emphasis on the development of antiviral substances, especially against the AIDS-causing virus. Scientists are using the methods of structural biology to characterize the AIDS virus at a molecular level in efforts to develop and modify targeted antiviral drugs. A successful vaccine development program will depend upon a greatly expanded foundation of basic knowledge concerning the AIDS virus.

A particularly important aspect of the AIDS program is the favorable impact that it is having in other areas of research, since many findings directly associated with AIDS are resulting in new developments that have wide application.

Conversely, the Committee believes that breakthroughs for AIDS will undoubtedly come from a better understanding of the basic system of human biology or from research on other diseases such as other sexually transmitted diseases which have been identified as key "cofactors" in transmission. NIH must cast its AIDS net widely in order to ensure the involvement of the brightest and most capable scientists. A more complete description of NIH AIDS activities is found in the report under each appropriate institute.

The Committee has added $25,000,000 for AIDS infrastructure improvements for the acquisition, repair, renovation, modernization, and expansion of existing research facilities and purchase of associated equipment. The Committee expects that not less than $3,000,000 of this total will be used for upgrading and modernizing primate centers involved in AIDS research. Funds are not to be used for the construction of new facilities, and all grants are to be awarded competitively. The Committee has heard considerable testimony that inadequate space for AIDS research is a major constraint to an expanded effort. An additional $10,000,000 has been added for the establishment of five multidisciplinary AIDS research centers. These centers should be selected competitively on the basis of existing and demonstrated competence to do outstanding research in the area of AIDS.

The Committee is concerned with the alarming growth of pediatric AIDS and has heard testimony that it is still unclear whether the HIV infection is passed from mother to infant during pregnancy, at birth or subsequent to birth. A better understanding of pediatric AIDS will assist in the treatment and prevention of this disease in children. The Committee has, therefore, added $5,000,000 for additional pediatric AIDS research.

The Committee has also added $2,000,000 for additional work to develop a more appropriate animal model. The Committee has heard testimony that because an animal model has not yet been found that mirrors human AIDS and HIV infection, AIDS research efforts have been complicated and slowed.