The patients and health professionals, scientists and institutions represented by the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research applaud President Obama for his vision articulated in the FY 2010 budget that "Investments in science and technology foster economic growth, create millions of high-tech, high-wage jobs that allow American workers to lead the global economy, improve the quality of life for all Americans, and strengthen our national security."

The first step toward achieving this vision was the unprecedented $10.4 billion provided for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The next step is to build on this investment through predictable and sustained, long-term growth in NIH funding in the FY 2010 budget and beyond.

For FY 2010, the Ad Hoc Group recommends increasing the NIH budget by at least $2.1 billion (7 percent) for a total of $32.4 billion.