Major changes by budget mechanism and/or budget activity detail are briefly described below. Note that there may be overlap between budget mechanism and activity detail and these highlights will not sum to the total change for the FY 2009 budget request for NIGMS, which is $1.882 million more than the FY 2008 Estimate, for a total of $1,937.690 million.
Research Project Grants (-$10.966 million; total $1,303.653 million): NIGMS will support a total of 3,674 Research Project Grant (RPG) awards in FY 2009. Noncompeting RPGs will decrease by 116 awards and $15.406 million. Competing RPGs will increase by 10 awards and $3.440 million. The NIH Budget policy for RPGs in FY 2009 is to provide no inflationary increases in noncompeting awards and no increase in average cost for competing RPGs.
Research Centers (+$9.0 million; total $175.743 million): NIGMS will expand support of the Models of Infectious Disease (MIDAS) initiative by developing specialized research centers. Total support for the MIDAS centers in FY 2009 is 3 awards and $9.0 million.
Research Training (+$3.102 million; total $195.075 million): NIGMS will continue to support the same number of FTTPs while providing a one percent increase in stipends to all predoctoral and postdoctoral Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award trainees.