National Institutes of Health - How NIH Obtains Funding

How NIH Obtains Funding

To allocate funds, the NIH must first obtain its budget from Congress. This process begins with IC leaders collaborating with scientists to determine the most important and promising research areas within their fields. IC leaders discuss research areas with NIH management who then develops a budget request for continuing projects, new research proposals, and new initiatives from the Director. NIH submits its budget request to HHS, and HHS considers this request within the parameters of its overall budget. Many adjustments and appeals occur between NIH and HHS before the agency submits NIH’s budget request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). OMB determines what amounts and research areas are approved for incorporation into the President’s final budget. The President then sends NIH’s budget request to Congress in February for the next fiscal year’s allocations. The House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees deliberate and by fall, Congress usually appropriates funding. This process takes approximately 18 months before the NIH can allocate any actual funds.