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Lawmakers press NIH on geographic equity, cancer and nursing research, AI initiatives and addiction funding
Summary
Senators raised concerns about the distribution of NIH funding across states and institutions (IDeA program, NCI centers), protections for nursing and addiction research, and the role of NCATS and AI; Director Bhattacharya pledged to expand geographic dispersal of research funds, support INCLUDE and work with Congress on institute restructuring.
Senators used questioning at the hearing to press NIH leadership on how the agency will ensure geographic equity in research funding, expand access to National Cancer Institute‑designated centers and protect targeted research programs such as nursing and addiction research.
Geographic equity and IDeA
Chair Capito and other senators emphasized the importance of the IDeA (Institutional Development Award) program, which provides funding to historically underfunded states, and asked how Bhattacharya would preserve and expand opportunities for researchers in smaller and rural states. Bhattacharya called IDeA “tremendously important,” said it was “less funded than it ought to be” (noting roughly $440 million in FY2024) and said he would work with Congress…
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