On November 7, 2023, the Senate confirmed (by a vote of 62 to 36) Monica R. Bertagnolli, MD, director of the $48 billion National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bertagnolli is the second woman to lead the premier biomedical and behavioral research agency. The agency had been without a permanent director since December 2021. Bertagnolli replaced Lawrence A. Tabak, PhD, who served as the acting director in the interim. He will resume his role as NIH principal deputy director. Bertagnolli's appointment also comes in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic and the accompanying reduction of public trust in science.
Conveying the best wishes of the APA members, CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, congratulated Bertagnolli (PDF, 145KB)opens in new window on the well-deserved recognition of her outstanding achievements and leadership in biomedical research and health care by President Biden and the Senate. Evans also noted that she “will undoubtedly face unprecedented challenges and opportunities, particularly in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic, which has highlighted the importance of science, particularly behavioral, social, and psychological science.” He emphasized APA has the utmost confidence that she will lead NIH with excellence, integrity, and innovation, and stressed the association stands ready to assist Bertagnolli in her efforts. APA Services joined other nonprofit organizations in urging the rapid confirmation of Bertagnolli in June and is a signatory on a community-wide congratulatory note (PDF, 60KB)opens in new window on her confirmation.
Bertagnolli begins her tenure as the agency faces potential budget cuts. House Republicans have proposed a budget cut (PDF, 177KB)opens in new window of $3.8 billion to $43 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2024 for the traditionally bipartisan agency. Conversely, the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Labor, Health and Human Services and Education bill provided $47.8 billion—a $943-million increase in discretionary funding over FY 2023. The Senate bill also included a $100-million increase in mental health research, a $20-million increase in opioid research, and a $10 million increase for the trans-NIH Implementing a Maternal health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyoneopens in new window (IMPROVE) initiative for research on maternal mortality.
APA Services and its members continue to urge Congress to resist rolling back critical investments in research, education, and mental health. In September 2023, APA Services also joined 300 advocates on Capitol Hill to urge Congress to provide sustained funding for NIH in FY 2024. Currently, funding for NIH remains unresolved. The NIH is operating under a continuing resolution (CR) that expires on February 2, 2024. Congress will need to complete the FY2024 appropriations process by then to avoid a potential government shutdown.
For more information, contact Angela L. Sharpe.