Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.
Dr. Fauci opened the Council session by welcoming visitors to the meeting and noting that Drs. D’Alessandro, Hughes and Lewis would be absent.
Consideration of Minutes of Previous Meeting:
The minutes of the January 26, 2004, meeting were considered and approved as written.
Budget Update
Dr. Fauci confirmed that final appropriations for FY 2004 were received and did not significantly change since the last meeting. The total NIH budget increased 3.1 percent or $855 million from FY 2003. NIAID’s budget increased by about $600 million, or 16.2 percent, which includes increases of more than 6.0 percent for AIDS and non-AIDS non-biodefense research areas, and more than 37.0 percent for the biodefense budget. Most of the other IC’s had 3.0 to 3.5 percent increases.
Regarding NIAID’s management plan, the payline is the 20th percentile and there is going to be a 3.0 percent inflation for non-competing application this year. Dr. Fauci also noted that the 2005 President’s Budget has not been signed into law but shows a 2.6 percent increase, or $729 million, for NIH. The proposed increase for NIAID is $122 million, or a 2.8 percent increase. The next step in the budget cycle is for Congress to review the President’s Budget.
Legislative Update
Dr. Fauci remarked that Congress is following our activities very attentively. This is not unexpected since our budget is over $4.5 billion, and we’ve had a large number of budget increases. Congress plans to roll out an NIH reauthorization bill this summer, so we can expect congressional interest to increase. Congress has demonstrated special interest in NIAID’s research program on emerging and re-emerging diseases. Dr. Fauci has been participating in frequent meetings, hearings, and briefings about these activities, the Biodefense Research Program, NIH budget and other matters.
Dr. Fauci announced that the Senate passed its version of the Project BioShield Act in the past week, by a vote of 99 to 0. It proposes $5.6 billion over 10 years. After the House passed its version in July 2003, it was held up in the Senate and House. Congress is expected to pass the bill when it comes back from Memorial Day recess. While the Senate version was being passed, Dr. Fauci answered the public’s questions about BioSphere in an online forum called “Ask the White House,” and participated in a Capitol press conference to explain Project BioShield.
Other Information Items
NIAID’s progress report on Category A agents came out in August of 2003. In April 2004, NIAID came out with a research agenda for Categories B and C, which can be viewed on NIAID’s Web site. Dr. Fauci made remarks about discoveries in the biology of pathogens and advances with SARS, HIV, West Nile, Malaria, smallpox vaccine, and the launching of the Atopic Dermatitis Vaccinia Network.
Dr. Fauci stated that NIAID’s implementing a plan for medical countermeasures against radiologic and nuclear threats, which he divided into product development, Centers of Medical Countermeasures Against Radiation (CMCR) and resources and infrastructure.
He informed the group that he co-authored a recent article about the philosophy of providing resources and expanding our biodefense capability and encouraged attendees to take a look.
From a public health standpoint, the SARS situation is going on in a very positive vein, despite a couple of laboratory accidents. A couple of months ago, Gary Nabel’s group came out with a paper about a vaccine to induce immunization and protective immunity in mice against SARS.
Amidst concerns that influenza, pandemic flu, might assume the capability of going from human to human, NIAID is making substantial efforts to develop a C virus vaccine. In the future, this could lead to a commercial product.
In regards to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, money is finally getting out into the sub-Saharan African and Caribbean communities. Dr. Fauci discussed the allocation of monies to different countries, and noted that the program will be more successful as the months go by and monies are mobilized. Since we played a role in getting this launched, we should be pleased. back to top |