The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

A Message From NCRR's Director

Dear Colleagues:

On February 17, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) of 2009. Among the Recovery Act's goals are to preserve and create jobs, promote economic recovery and provide investments to increase economic efficiency by propelling technological advances in science and health.

The National Institutes of Health is well-positioned to fund the best science in pursuit of improving the length and the quality of the lives of our citizens, while at the same time stimulating the economy. NIH conducts and supports outstanding biomedical and behavioral research, through more than 3,000 institutions across the country — institutions that have a direct impact upon the local economies in their towns, cities and states.

As reported broadly in the media, NIH will receive $10.4 billion through the Recovery Act for use over the next two years through September 2010. Under the Recovery Act, NCRR will administer more than $1.6 billion in federal grants in the following areas:

• $1 billion for construction, repair and renovation of research facilities
• $300 million for shared instrumentation and other capital research equipment
• Up to $310 million in support of biomedical research priorities

We are aware of how interested you are in these programs and will be providing more details as they become available here on our Web site, at www.ncrr.nih.gov/recovery, as well as directly to many of our audiences.

Additionally, through a new NIH Challenge Grant program, NCRR will support research on health and science problems where progress can be expected in two years. Specific NCRR challenge grant topics include bioethics, comparative effectiveness research, enabling technologies, translational science and information technology for utilizing health care data research. A major consideration is that these funds must be distributed over 18 months to meet the goals of the Recovery Act. For more information about NCRR's Challenge Grant topics and how to apply for funding through this program, see www.ncrr.nih.gov/recovery/challenge.

The Recovery Act's impact is expected to extend beyond the immediate scientists who will receive funds, to allied health workers, technicians, students, trade workers and others who will receive the leveraged benefits. We understand that to accomplish the goals of the Recovery Act, it will take the help of the entire scientific community. Beyond the immediate economic stimulus, the long-term impact from the science funded by the Recovery Act will have a positive impact upon the health of the nation for years to come.

Sincerely,

Barbara Alving, M.D.
Director, NCRR
March 4, 2009