National Institutes of Health
BY THE NUMBERS:
is the nation’s primary medical research agency, supporting
research efforts in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
“Rhode Island Hospital is nationally renowned for
pioneering efforts in stem cell research. This federal
[NIH] award will allow the hospital to expand and
enhance existing research initiatives and help
attract more talented researchers and promising
young scientists to the state.”
RHODE ISLAND IN FY 2012*
$150 Million: NIH funds awarded
(From FY 2003-12, NIH funding in
Rhode Island totaled $1.427 billion)
16: NIH-funded institutions
449: NIH grants awarded
2: Congressional districts with NIH grants
* http://report.nih.gov/award/
U.S. Senator Jack Reed
IMPROVING RHODE ISLAND’S HEALTH THROUGH NIH FUNDING
Brown University received NIH grants totaling $59 million in FY 2012. Brown scientists
developed a possible early detection test and animal model for preeclampsia, a condition
which affects up to eight percent of pregnancies and can lead to fetal and maternal death.
NIH also supports medical research at hospitals such as Rhode Island Hospital, Miriam
Hospital, and Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, which were awarded $29, $19,
and $8.1 million, respectively, in FY 2012. Miriam investigators found that poor metal health
leads to unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, binge drinking, and poor eating habits.
Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University researchers discovered that insulin production
also occurs in the brain, and they associated reduced production with Alzheimer’s disease.
The University of Rhode Island received $14 million in NIH funding in FY 2012.
NIH FUNDING IN RHODE ISLAND DISTRICTS*
District
Grant total
District
Grant total
1
$96,674,388
2
$52,963,483
*District funding data is based on districting for the 112th US Congress
RHODE ISLAND’S BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH PROFILE
Since 2000, Rhode Island institutes have received six Center of Biomedical Research Excellence
(COBRE) grants from NIH. These awards are targeted to increase the biomedical research capacity of
Rhode Island by supporting promising scientists and establishing core research facilities.
Rhode Island Hospital was awarded a five-year, $11 million COBRE grant to study stem cell biology.
Brown University received a five-year, $11 million COBRE grant to study how cells become cancerous.
Office of Public Affairs  9650 Rockville Pike  Bethesda, MD 20814
National Institutes of Health
NIH invests $30.9 billion in medical
research to benefit the American people.
is to seek
fundamental knowledge about the nature
and behavior of living systems and the
application of that knowledge to enhance
health, lengthen life, and reduce the burdens
of illness and disability.
More than 80% of NIH funding is distributed
through approximately 50,000 competitive
grants to more than 300,000 researchers at
more than 2,500 universities and other
institutions throughout the US.
http://www.nih.gov/about/mission.htm
INVESTMENT IN NIH RESEARCH BENEFITS THE RHODE ISLAND ECONOMY
Rhode Island is home to 277 bioscience business establishments.1 From FY 2004-09, NIH
awarded $29 million to Rhode Island companies,2 and venture capital firms invested an
additional $231 million in bioscience firms during this period.3
Brown University research findings led to the commercial product BrainGate, an implanted
system that converts brain waves into computer commands. This technology has entered
clinical trials for use in paralyzed patients.
Rhode Island residents held 4,602 bioscience industry jobs in 2010. In Rhode Island, the 2010
average annual wage was $74,242 for bioscience sector workers compared to the private
sector average of $42,532.1
“I congratulate Brown University and the Providence VA Medical Center for this ground-breaking
project, [BrainGate,] which could help to significantly improve the quality of life of disabled and
paralyzed Americans, including many veterans. The innovations produced in this new study
highlight the value of federal support for basic scientific research.”
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
NIH SPURS RHODE ISLAND INNOVATION
Rhode Island received $6.3 million in NIH grants in FY 2012 to train the next generation of
innovative scientists.2
Three Rhode Island received NIH funding totaling $3.7 million during FY 2012 for the research
and development of technologies with potential commercial applications.2
From 2004-09, 369 bioscience-related patents were issued to individuals and entities in Rhode
Island, with medical instruments and pharmaceuticals representing the largest categories.3
A total of 145 clinical trials were initiated at Rhode Island institutes in 2009.3
1 Battelle/BIO
2
2012 State Bioscience Industry Development Report
NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORT)
3
Battelle/BIO 2010 State Bioscience Initiatives Reports
Office of Public Affairs  9650 Rockville Pike  Bethesda, MD 20814