Federal Priority Agenda
AIRI was founded in 1961 to promote communication among member institutions and to further the pursuit of common interests, especially with regard to federal issues that affect research funding and regulation.

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Federal Priority Agenda

Every year, the AIRI Government Affairs Committee (GAC) and the AIRI Washington Office establish Congressional and Executive Branch priorities. The AIRI Washington Office advocates for these priorities throughout the year through meetings with Members of Congress and staff, Executive Branch agencies, Action Alerts to the AIRI membership, and collaborative efforts with patient advocacy groups and the research and scientific communities. Below are summaries of AIRI's current Congressional and Executive Branch priorities.

Congressional Priorities

+ Increase NIH Funding

AIRI supports and sustained funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). AIRI institutions play an important role in the U.S. biomedical research community, receiving about 11 percent of the extramural funds awarded by NIH each year. For 2011, AIRI supports $32,239 billion for the NIH budget, an increase of 3.2 percent above last year, which is equal to the projected Biomedical Research and Development Price Index for FY 2011.

AIRI Written Testimony Submitted to the House Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee for FY 2011

AIRI Written Testimony Submitted to the Senate Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee for FY 2011

+ Increase NSF Funding
AIRI supports increased funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF-funded biological research provides important fundamental building blocks for the basic research funded by NIH.

AIRI is encouraged by actions taken by the President and Congress to double the budget of NSF, and supports the President’s FY 2011 budget request of $7.424 billion. 

+ Foster the Next Generation Scientific Workforce

AIRI supports policies that promote the United States’ ability to maintain a competitive edge in biomedical science. The biomedical research community is dependent upon a knowledgeable, skilled, and diverse workforce to address current and future critical health research questions. The cultivation and preservation of this workforce is dependent upon several factors: 

·         The ability to recruit scientists and students globally is essential to maintaining a strong workforce.

·         Training programs both in basic and clinical biomedical research, initiatives focusing on career development, and recruiting a diverse scientific workforce are important to innovation in biomedical research for the benefit of public health.


Executive Branch Priorities

+ Monitor Cost Policy Issues
AIRI continues to meet with Executive Branch officials, including the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to discuss cost policy issues unique to independent research institutes. By maintaining strong working relationships with OMB, HHS and NIH, AIRI seeks to preserve the role of independent research institutes in the biomedical research enterprise.

                 - NIH Revised Grants Policy Statement on licensing and patent costs

Additional Information:

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Association of Independent Research Institutes (AIRI).