WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today joined her colleague U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) in introducing an amendment for consideration to the impending coronavirus relief package. The amendment would provide additional funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

“Supporting NIH’s efforts to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID-19 is critical in this public health battle. This novel coronavirus continues to evolve, and giving our scientists at NIH more funding will help them better understand how we tackle this virus. In addition, this amendment supports NIH’s overall efforts to combat diseases and disorders that still affect millions of Americans,” Senator Capito said.


“Our nation continues to face the challenges brought on by a disease we know little about,” said Senator Blunt. “This amendment provides the resources necessary for NIH to reopen laboratories and conduct COVID-19 research, including how the disease impacts those with underlying conditions, minorities, pregnant women, and children. I’m proud to join Senator Capito in introducing this amendment that will help researchers gain the knowledge they need to fight this disease.”

Specifically, the amendment would provide support for:

  • $480.56 million for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
  • $290 million for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
  • $200 million for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
  • $200 million for National Institute of Mental Health.
  • $172.68 million for Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
  • $64.33 million for National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities.
  • $1.22 billion for National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.
  • $12.91 billion for the Office of the Director: 
    • $10.1 billion to reopen NIH-funded research laboratories and reconstitute lost research.
    • 1.24 billion for the ACTIV public-private partnership to prioritize and speed the development of treatments and vaccines.
      • $240 million to provide resources targeted young researchers who need additional research time as post-doctoral candidates because of lost research/training due to COVID-19.
      • $1.33 billion for COVID-19 specific research to smaller institutes and centers at the direction of the NIH Director.

     

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