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Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.
Dr. Fauci opened the Council session by welcoming visitors to the meeting. He introduced a new ex officio member, Major General Lester Martinez-Lopez, United States Army Medical Research Command, Fort Detrick. He also welcomed two ad hoc Council members, Dr. Kathryn Holmes, University of Colorado, and Dr. Lawrence Hunsicker, University of Iowa.
Consideration of Minutes of Previous Meeting:
The minutes of the January 27, 2003, meeting were considered and approved as written.
Staff and Organizational Changes:
Dr. Fauci announced the appointment of Dr. Sandra Lehrman as director of the therapeutic research program, Division of AIDS.
Budget Update
The enacted NIH FY 2003 budget includes an increase of $3.5 billion or 14.9 percent over last fiscal year. NIAID’s FY 2003 budget is divided almost evenly among AIDS, biodefense, and non-AIDS excluding biodefense, and reflects significant growth in all three areas. NIAID’s budget increase of $1.2 billion or 46.7 percent includes an increase of 133 percent for buildings and facilities (B&F). Allocations will fund construction of a BSL-3 lab and vivarium on the NIH main campus, an extramural BSL-4 lab and clinical facilities, and upgrades to NIH physical security.
In the president’s FY 2003 budget, NIAID’s appropriation included $250 million for procuring 25 million doses of a next generation anthrax vaccine. To prevent NIAID from spending NIH research funds on vaccine procurement, Congress removed $250 million from NIAID’s appropriation but did not specify why these funds were removed. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directed NIAID to proceed with the anthrax vaccine plan despite an adjusted budget shortfall of $233 million. To fund the OMB requirement, NIAID will reduce some FY 2003 biodefense research initiatives while deferring others to FY 2004, reset start dates of grants in non-biodefense research programs, and reduce contract obligations. This plan enables NIAID to maintain its payline at the 22nd percentile and continue funding approximately the same number of grants.
Legislative Update
Frequently in collaboration with CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding, Dr. Fauci provided congressional testimony and high-level briefings on biodefense, the SARS epidemic, a national smallpox vaccine plan, proposed national and regional laboratories, NIH’s autoimmune diseases research plan, and other issues. Dr. Fauci noted that congressional appropriations committees follow NIAID’s work closely and remain supportive of the Institute’s programs.
President Bush has signed the Global AIDS Bill, which will provide $15 billion over five years for AIDS prevention and treatment, as well as patient care, in 12 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and two in the Caribbean. The president visited NIH’s Vaccine Research Center, where he mentioned Project BioShield, now working its way through Congress. If enacted, this legislation would enable NIH to expedite grant and contract awards for research, development, and purchase of countermeasures against bioterrorism.
Other Information Items
Dr. Fauci noted the integration of NIAID’s work on the evolving SARS epidemic with that of industry, the CDC, DOD, and other agencies. NIAID sponsored a one-day program on developing a research agenda and response to SARS and brought together panels of experts to discuss radiobiological and medical chemical defense research.
Council Materials
The NIAID Office of Communications provided Council members with several publications and press releases. back to top |