Coalition Applauds Congress for Including National Academies Pediatric Research Assessment in Spending Bill
WASHINGTON (March 27, 2024) – The Coalition for Pediatric Medical Research applauds Congress for including within the final Fiscal Year 2024 spending bill (Public Law 118-47) a provision tasking the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) with conducing a comprehensive assessment of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) pediatric research portfolio. The bill was signed into law by President Biden on Saturday.
“The Coalition thanks Congress for recognizing the importance of a robust NIH pediatric research agenda and for including funding and direction to the National Academies to assess the current structure and to make recommendations for enhancement. This evaluation offers a unique opportunity for experts in the field to assess the current portfolio and structure of NIH’s pediatric research agenda and to chart the course for a vibrant child health research program for decades to come.
“The Coalition looks forward to working with NASEM and the NIH on this important project and hopes to be a full and constructive partner in the process.”
The specific provision along with the reference provision in the Senate report are below.
Pediatric Research Assessment.-The agreement includes $1,500,000 for this assessment, as described under the heading “NIH Support for Pediatric Research” in Senate Report 118-84.
NIH Support for Pediatric Research.—The Committee commends NIH for its efforts to coordinate pediatric research across its Institutes and Centers through the recently established Trans-NIH Pediatric Research Consortium. The Committee understands NCI participates in the Consortium, and that childhood cancer research is an important part of the pediatric research portfolio across NIH. The Committee requests an update in the fiscal year 2025 CJ on efforts underway through the Trans-NIH Pediatric Research Consortium to enhance pediatric research across NIH, including efforts to strengthen the pediatric research workforce. The Committee desires NIH to maintain a robust pediatric research portfolio spanning basic, translational and clinical research, to adequately support researchers at all career stages, particularly early career investigators focused in pediatrics, and to ensure pediatric components are included within larger NIH research priorities. The Committee includes $1,500,000 for the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine to assess the current NIH pediatric research portfolio and structure, including how projects are categorized as pediatrics, how pediatric components have been included or excluded from larger NIH initiatives, structural or process impediments to pediatric applicants, how pediatric research priorities are established, and how pediatric research activity is coordinated across Institutes and Centers and to make recommendations to address deficiencies and improve NIH’s overall support of child health research.