ISSCR Expresses Concern over FY2018 Budget Proposal in U.S.

The FY2018 Discretionary Budget Plan put forward by the U.S. Administration includes dramatic cuts in funding for science and research programs that would threaten biomedical research and its translation into new therapies for millions of people worldwide. Recent advances in stem cell research, gene therapy, genomics, and cancer biology have created unprecedented opportunities to create new treatments for human disease. Yet the 20 percent funding reduction for the National Institutes of Health in the administration’s proposal would slow the development of new cures and cause long-term damage to the U.S. research infrastructure and to public health efforts around the world.

The proposed budget cuts could also prevent federal agencies in the U.S. from providing the oversight necessary to protect the health and safety of its citizens. The Food and Drug Administration must have the necessary resources to ensure that new drug therapies are proven safe and effective before being marketed to consumers.

As the U.S. administration and Congress debate budget and funding priorities, the ISSCR will continue to work with policy makers in both parties to promote adequate funding to advance treatments for disease, protect investments in science, and ensure that the economy continues to benefit from the significant contributions that science and biomedical research provide.