Federal Funding for Research

Looking for the most up-to-date information on federal funding for research?

HEROES Act Proposed Federal Research Agency Supplemental Funding
Infogram

See our most recent blog posts related to FY21 appropriations.
H.R.6074 - Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act
HEROES Act

For the most up-to-date information on federal research and development:

AAAS Federal R&D Budget Dashboard: This interactive dashboard allows users to examine basic federal spending data by agency and/or by character of work over multiple decades in total dollars, as a share of the budget, and as a share of the U.S. economy.

Click on a federal research agency below for more information on its work and budget in recent years.

National Institutes of Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Food and Drug Administration

National Science Foundation

For more on investment in research, see:

Resources and Reports on R&D Spending
A robust array of data (recent and historical) on U.S. R&D investment, with a particular focus on funding for health-related research and development.

U.S. Investment in Global Health Research
Research!America’s summary of public and private sources investing in global health research

Research Funding by State
NIH, CDC, NSF, and AHRQ

U.S. Investments in Medical and Health Research and Development

A new report from Research!America shows total U.S. investment in medical and health R&D grew by 27% from 2013 to 2017, led by industry and the federal government. Academic and other research institutions ramped up their R&D investment substantially over the five-year period, increasing their spending by 27%, while state and local governments increased investments by 17.5%. Despite overall investment growth, medical and health R&D continues to account for just five percent of the total $3.6 trillion in U.S. health spending.

Understanding the Federal Budget

Federal research funding is crucial to our nation’s health and economy.

Research supported by agencies like the NIH not only bring about medical advancements but also create jobs, promote innovation, and ensure the continued safety and well-being of Americans. Efforts to cut the overall federal budget, however, frequently target research. This happens despite strong public support, making Research!America's advocacy - and yours - crucial in influencing the federal budget process.

Want to get involved? Learn about the federal budget process and the individual outlook for research agency budgets. You can also read about the current budget situation and have your questions answered in our FAQ.

Stay informed about the federal budget so you, too, can help make health and medical research a priority.

Examples of Federally Funded Research Studies

Federal funding supports scientific research at universities throughout the country. See our agency fact sheets to learn more about innovative studies and their implications for improving the health of Americans.