Just how much money is allotted to study a certain disease — and which gets more, liver cancer or liver disease? (The answer is liver disease.) Earlier this year, the National Institutes of Health updated its tally of how much funding goes into research for a range of diseases and conditions each year. For 2006, these figures are based on grants, contracts, and ongoing research at the NIH. The numbers for 2007 and 2008 are estimates, using current funding levels, this year’s current rate level, and the budget for 2008 as a guide.
From the NIH’s list of research areas, Genome Technology picked out a sampling of diseases. Overall, most categories such as multiple sclerosis and epilepsy will see a slight decline of a million or two dollars over the next couple of years. Influenza research, though, will continue to receive more and more attention, as will diabetes studies. The big winner, in terms of getting the most funding, is HIV/AIDS research.
To see a PDF of this data, click here.