Contact Your Elected Officials to Increase Federal Funding for NIH Research

On May 7, President Obama released the details of his FY 2010 budget proposal, which includes funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). For FY 2010, President Obama has proposed approximately $31 billion in funding for NIH, a 1.4 percent increase over the final FY 2009 funding levels that were enacted in March of this year.

Though the President's budget request is simply a starting point for the annual budget process, Congress will begin hearings on the budget request in the near future. With a very tight year expected for the entire federal budget, now is the time to contact your Senators and Representative to generate interest in increasing NIH funding. Early and continued grassroots advocacy is crucial to ensuring adequate funding for NIH in FY 2010.

If you have questions, please contact ASH Research Advocacy Manager Tracy Roades at 202-776-0544 or troades@hematology.org.

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Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ]:

(Edit Letter Below)

As a hematologist interested in research on blood disorders, I write to urge your continued support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by providing an increase in funding of at least 7 percent in fiscal year (FY) 2010.

NIH-sponsored research leads to cures, saves lives and fuels our economy.  However, in the last several years, Congress has only provided nominal annual increases that have not let the NIH keep pace with biomedical inflation and that have amounted to flat funding for our country's premier biomedical research institutes.  This has meant that researchers have not been able to pursue opportunities that could affect the health of all Americans.

For hematology, sub-inflationary funding increases at NIH will effectively freeze research resources into cures and treatments for millions of Americans with blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma; bleeding disorders such as hemophilia; clotting problems such as thrombosis; and, genetic disorders such as sickle cell disease, and Cooley's anemia, among others.

Hematology research offers enormous promise to better understand, prevent, treat, and cure a number of blood-related and other conditions.  However, unless NIH is adequately funded, it will be extremely difficult for hematologists and other health professionals to create research advances.  Adequate funding for NIH is crucial to advancing groundbreaking basic, clinical, and translational research.  It is critical that our country make this a priority.

Again, I urge your continued support of NIH by providing an increase in funding of at least 7 percent for NIH in FY 2010.

I appreciate your support. Please contact me if I can provide additional information to you.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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American Society of Hematology

Contact Your Elected Officials to Increase Federal Funding for NIH Research