The American College of Radiology (ACR) has urged the U.S. House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee to increase federal fiscal year (FY) 2026 U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding by 9% over FY 2025.
Submitting congressional testimony April 2, the ACR asked for $51.3 billion for the NIH and $1.5 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The recommendation for NIH represents a $4.222 billion or 9% increase over FY 2025 funding, according to the ACR.
The College highlighted radiology and imaging advancements made possible through robust NIH and ARPA-H funding including the following:
- ARPA-H ImagiNg Data EXchange (INDEX) project (in development by ARPA-H)
- ARPA-H Biomedical Data Fabric (BDF) Toolbox
- Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST)
- NCI-designated central public repository of medical images and associated clinical data from lung cancer screening patients
“Congress is working through challenges pertaining to appropriations, including those specific to biomedical research efforts,” the ACR said in its April 11 bulletin. The College continues to work with partner organizations and signed on to a letter initiative led by the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research.
“Federal support for medical research through NIH amounts to roughly $138 a year per American and the return on investment has been substantial with significant declines in deaths from heart disease, cancer, and stroke,” according to information compiled by the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research.
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