Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
2010 Fiscal Year Budget
Congressional Justification

Table of Contents

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• Organization Chart
• Appropriation Language
• Amounts Available for Obligation
• Budget Mechanism Table
• Budget Authority by Activity
• Major Changes in Budget Request
• Summary of Changes
• Budget Graphs
• Justification Narrative
• Budget Authority by Object
• Salaries and Expenses
• Authorizing Legislation
• Appropriations History
• Detail of Full-Time Equivalent Employment (FTE)
• Detail of Positions
• New Positions Requested

Organization Chart

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National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the Public Health Services Act with respect to neurological disorders and stroke, [$1,593,344,000] $1,612,745,000 (Department of Health and Human Services Appropriation Act, 2009)

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Amounts Available for Obligation 1/

Amounts Available for Obligation

Source of Funding	F Y 2008 Actual	F Y 2009 Estimate	F Y 2010 PB
Appropriation	$1,571,353,000	$1,593,344,000	$1,612,745,000
Type 1 Diabetes	0	0	0
Rescission	-27,452,000	0	0
Supplemental	8,212,000	0	0
Subtotal, adjusted appropriation	1,552,113,000	1,593,344,000	1,612,745,000
Real transfer under Director's one-percent transfer authority (GEI)	-2,557,000	0	0
Comparative transfer under Director's one-percent transfer authority (GEI)	2,557,000	0	0
Subtotal, adjusted budget authority	1,552,113,000	1,593,344,000	1,612,745,000
Unobligated balance, start of year	0	0	0
Unobligated balance, end of year	0	0	0
Subtotal, adjusted budget authority	1,552,113,000	1,593,344,000	1,612,745,000
Unobligated balance lapsing	-13,000	0	0
Total obligations	1,552,100,000	1,593,344,000	1,612,745,000

1/ Excludes the following amounts for reimbursable activities carried out by this account: FY 2008 - $8,218,000 FY 2009 Estimate - $8,442,000 FY 2010 Estimate - $8,544,000 Excludes $411,102 Actual in FY 2008; Estimate $423,237 in FY 2009 and Estimate $429,530 in FY 2010 for royalties.

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Budget mechanism table

(Dollars in Thousands)
Budget Mechanism - Total

MECHANISM	FY 2008 Actual		FY 2009 Estimate		FY 2010 PB		Change
Research Grants:	Number	Amount	Number	Amount	Number	Amount	Number	Amount
Research Projects:
Noncompeting	1,896	$757,777	1,854	$811,413	1,829	$822,897	(25)	$1,484
Administrative supplements	(121)	6,879	(123)	7,000	(44)	2,500	(79)	(4,500)
Competing	698	270,318	616	245,722	616	250,513	0	4,791
Subtotal, RPGs	2,594	1,034,974	2,470	1,064,135	2,445	1,075,910	(25)	11,775
SBIR/STTR	111	37,741	112	37,926	113	38,376	1	450
Subtotal, RPGs	2,705	1,072,715	2,582	1,102,061	2,558	1,114,286	(24)	12,225
Research Centers:
Specialized/comprehensive	79	96,451	81	99,152	81	100,639	0	1,487
Clinical research	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Biotechnology	0	50	0	0	0	0	0	0
Comparative medicine	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Research Centers in Minority Institutions	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Subtotal, Centers	79	96,501	81	99,152	81	100,639	0	1,487
Other Research:
Research careers	304	49,442	312	50,777	314	51,539	2	762
Cancer education	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cooperative clinical research	61	7,831	63	8,042	63	8,163	0	121
Biomedical research support	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Minority biomedical research support	3	871	3	895	3	908	0	13
Other	62	12,206	64	12,536	64	12,724	0	188
Subtotal, Other Research	430	70,350	442	72,250	444	73,334	2	1,084
Total Research Grants	3,214	1,239,566	3,105	1,273,463	3,083	1,288,259	(22)	14,796,720
Research Training:	FTTPs		FTTPs		FTTPs
Individual awards	416	15,333	420	15,486	428	15,789	8	303
Institutional awards	350	16,708	365	17,426	362	17,287	(3)	-139
Total, Training	766	32,041	785	32,912	790	33,076	5	164
Research & development contracts	97	82,257	98	84,160	98	85,422	0	1,262
(SBIR/STTR)	(1)	(87)	(1)	(87)	(1)	(87)	(0)	(0)
	F T E's		F T E's		F T E's		F T E's
Intramural research	347	144,982	336	148,317	343	150,542	7	2,225
Research management and support	157	53,267	152	54,492	155	55,446	3	954
Total, NINDS	504	1,552,113	488	1,593,344	498	1,612,745	10	19,401

Includes FTEs which are reimbursed from the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research

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Budget Authority by Program

BA by Program
(Dollars in Thousands)

	FY 2006 Actual		FY 2007 Actual		FY 2008 Actual		FY 2008 Comparable		FY 2009 Estimate		FY 2010 PB		Change
Extramural Research Detail:	FTEs	Amount	FTEs	Amount	FTEs	Amount	FTEs	Amount	FTEs	Amount	FTEs	Amount	FTEs	Amount
Channels, Synapses & Circuits		$223,127		$193,083		$186,310		$186,663		$191,719		$193,955		$ 2,236
Neural Environment		333,020		330,855		372,228		372,932		383,031		387,501		4,470
Neurodegeneration		186,827		192,755		194,628		194,996		200,278		202,615		2,337
Neurogenetics		205,461		211,039		196,263		196,635		201,961		204,317		2,356
Repair & Plasticity		141,135		154,237		151,261		151,547		155,652		157,468		1,816
Systems & Cognitive Neuroscience		189,691		191,996		185,544		185,895		190,931		193,157		2,226
Technology Development, Infrastructure & Resources		60,709		64,555		65,073		65,196		66,963		67,744		781
Subtotal, Extramural		1,339,970		1,338,520		1,351,307		1,353,864		1,390,535		1,406,757		16,222
Intramural research	374	142,648	364	142,234	347	144,982	347	144,982	336	148,317	343	150,542	7	2,225
Res. management & support	152	51,085	153	52,234	157	53,267	157	53,267	152	54,492	155	55,446	3	954
TOTAL	526	1,533,703	517	1,532,988	504	1,549,556	504	1,552,113	488	1,593,344	498	1,612,745	10	19,401

Includes FTEs which are reimbursed from the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research

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Major Changes in the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Request

Major changes by budget mechanism and/or budget activity detail are briefly described below.  Note that there may be overlap between budget mechanism and activity detail and these highlights will not sum to the total change for the FY 2010 budget request for NINDS, which is $19.401 million more than the FY 2009 Estimate, for a total of $1,612.745 million.

Research Project Grants (+$11.775 million, total $1,075.910 million)

NINDS will support a total of 2,445 Research Project Grant (RPG) awards in FY 2010.  Noncompeting RPGs will decrease by 25 awards and increase by $11.484 million.  Competing RPGs will remain at the same number of awards and increase by $4.791 million.  The NIH Budget policy for RPGs in FY 2010 includes a 2.0% inflationary increase in noncompeting awards and for the average costs in competing grants. 

Research Careers (+$0.762 million, total $51.539 million)

NINDS will continue to support the Pathway to Independence Program by funding an additional 14 awards in FY 2010.  Funds will become available as career awards convert to the noncompeting RPG mechanism.

Research & Development Contracts (+$1.262 million, total $85.422 million)

NINDS will increase funding for research contracts to include a new Medicinal Chemistry for Neurotherapeutics contract.  The need for medicinal chemistry in the NIH community has grown in recent years as non-drug compounds with therapeutic potential have been identified in many disease areas.

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Summary of changes

Summary of Changes

F Y 2009 estimate				$1,593,344,000
F Y 2010 estimated budget authority				1,612,745,000
Net change				19,401,000
	2009 Current Estimate Base		Change from Base
	Budget		Budget
CHANGES	F T E's	Authority	F T E's	Authority
A.  Built-in:     1.  Intramural research:
a.  Annualization of January              2009 pay increase		$49,098,000		$587,000
b.  January F Y 2010 pay increase		49,098,000		736,000
d.  Payment for centrally furnished services		24,925,000		499,000
e.  Increased cost of laboratory supplies,              materials, and other expenses		74,294,000		1,220,000
Subtotal				3,042,000
2.  Research management and support:
a.  Annualization of January                2009 pay increase		$21,140,000		$253,000
b.  January F Y 2010 pay increase		21,140,000		317,000
d.  Payment for centrally furnished services		12,366,000		247,000
e.  Increased cost of laboratory supplies,              materials, and other expenses		20,986,000		352,000
Subtotal				1,169,000
Subtotal, Built-in				4,211,000

Summary of Changes, continued

	2009 Current
	Estimate Base		Change from Base
CHANGES	No.	Amount	No.	Amount
B.  Program:
1.  Research project grants:
a.  Noncompeting	1,854	$818,413,000	(25)	$6,984,000
b.  Competing	616	245,722,000	0	4,791,000
c.  SBIR/STTR	112	37,926,000	1	450,000
Total	2,582	1,102,061,000	(24)	12,224,000
2.  Research centers	81	99,152,000	0	1,487,000
3.  Other research	442	72,250,000	2	1,084,000
4.  Research training	785	32,912,000	5	164,000
5.  Research and development contracts	98	84,160,000	0	1,262,000
Subtotal, extramural				16.222,000
	F T E's		F T E's
6.  Intramural research	336	148,317,000	7	(817,000)
7.  Research management and support	152	54,492,000	3	(215,000)
Subtotal, program		1,593,344,000		15,190,000
Total changes	488		10	19,401,000

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Budget Graphs

History of Budget Authority and FTE's:

Distribution by Mechanism:

Change by Selected Mechanisms:

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Justification of Budget Request
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Authorizing Legislation: Section 301 and Title IV of the Public Health Service Act, as amended.

Budget Authority:

	F Y 2008 Appropriation	F Y 2009 Omnibus	F Y 2009 Recovery Act	F Y 2010 President's Budget	F Y 2010 +/- 2009 Omnibus
BA	1,522,113,000	$1,593,334,000	$402,912,000	$1,612,745,000	$19,401,000
BA	504	488		498	10

This document provides justification for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 activities of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), including NIH/AIDS activities. Details of the FY 2010 HIV/AIDS activities are in the "Office of AIDS Research (OAR)" Section of the Overview. Details on the Common Fund are located in the Overview, Volume One. Program funds are allocated as follows:  Competitive Grants/Cooperative Agreements; Contracts; Direct Federal/Intramural and Other.

In FY 2009, a total of $402,912,000 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds were transferred from the Office of the Director. These funds will be used to support scientific research opportunities that help support the goals of the ARRA. The ARRA allows NIH to execute these funds via any NIH funding mechanism. Funds are available until September 30, 2010. These funds are not included in the FY 2009 Omnibus amounts reflected in this document.

NINDS Director's Overview

The mission of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is to reduce the burden of neurological disorders through research. Diseases of the nervous system affect millions of people in every age group and segment of society in the United States and throughout the world. Because of the complexity of the brain, its sensitivity and inaccessibility, and the multiplicity of neurological diseases, disorders of the brain present formidable scientific and public health challenges.

In confronting these challenges, NINDS balances investment across many competing opportunities and responsibilities. Hundreds of disorders affect the nervous system, with a myriad of causes. Dementias, stroke, traumatic brain injury, migraine, epilepsy, and neuropathies are among those that affect millions of people. Uncommon disorders carry a special responsibility because industry is unlikely to target rare diseases, despite the exceptional opportunities for progress. For all disorders, NINDS attends to short term opportunities for improving care and to the long term goals of prevention and cure. Basic studies lay foundations for the future, translational research turns scientific insights into therapy, and clinical trials test interventions. Throughout, NINDS engages the insight and creativity of the scientific community through investigator-initiated research, but also targets critical needs and opportunities. Finally, NINDS encourages new investigators, while sustaining productive, established researchers and interdisciplinary teams of scientists and physicians. Balancing these competing priorities is challenging, but scientific advances are revealing common underlying mechanisms and therapeutic strategies that may apply to multiple diseases, so progress against one disorder often opens opportunities for others.

A decade ago, an NINDS strategic plan established a broad vision for neuroscience. Disease specific plans, coordinating across the NIH, followed for stroke, epilepsy, brain tumor, Parkinson's disease, muscular dystrophy, tuberous sclerosis, ataxia telangiectasia, autism, muscular dystrophy, and other disorders.   Scientific workshops on many other neurological diseases including autism, for which NINDS shares responsibility with other Institutes, also brought together NIH, patient, and scientific communities to set research priorities. To pursue these priorities, NINDS enhanced investigator-initiated basic, translational, and clinical research programs, developed catalytic resources, and targeted initiatives to priorities for specific disorders. Among these actions are innovative programs to develop therapies, including the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Project, the Neuroprotection Exploratory Trials in Parkinson's Disease, and the Cooperative Program in Translational Research. 

Now, a decade after the last strategic plan, an intensive NINDS planning process is examining all Institute programs and making recommendations for the future. The planning process is engaging experts from NIH, academia, and industry, and stakeholders from the community. "Blue Sky" discussions are shaping an overarching vision for NINDS within the changing landscape of public and private research. Specific planning groups have focused on basic, translational, and clinical research, and on the spectrum of neurological diseases. Subsequent planning will focus on training and on health disparities. NINDS has provided planning panels with unprecedented access to information about what the Institute has done, so that they can recommend what the Institute can do better. The National Advisory Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NANDS) Council discussed panel recommendations in February 2009, and NINDS will consolidate a strategic plan after further input from the Council and the public.

For 2009, NINDS is setting priorities based on guidance from the planning process, discussions with the NANDS Council, interactions with the scientific community and the public, and input from Congress. Scientific opportunity and expectations from the NIH budget doubling have driven grant application numbers up, and thus the percentage funded down to a level that restrains innovation, hinders productivity, and discourages new and established investigators. The Institute has therefore put a high priority on supporting investigator-initiated research, sustaining established research teams, encouraging new investigators, and fostering innovative research. Because translating science into therapies is critical to the NINDS mission, the Institute renewed the Cooperative Program in Translational Research, which supports preclinical therapy development in academic and small business laboratories, and improved monitoring of milestones for continued funding of each project. The NINDS Intramural Research Program is continuing to revitalize its clinical and translational programs, including ground-breaking advancement of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain.

The new strategic plan will guide NINDS actions for 2010. The Institute is establishing an Office of Translation Research, a medicinal chemistry resource to support drug development, and will solicit translational and pilot clinical studies for advanced neural prosthetics through milestone-gated funding mechanisms. The Institute is also establishing an Office of Clinical Research that will implement recommendations to increase the effectiveness of clinical trials and studies. Among other priorities for 2010, NINDS is increasing support for its autism research program, which includes research on the neurological basis of autism and related disorders and on potential therapeutic strategies, the Autism Centers for Excellence, and targeted solicitations, including joint initiatives with NIMH, NICHD and other parts of NIH. Among continuing autism activities for FY2010 is a program announcement on the shared neurobiology of autism and fragile X syndrome. NINDS is also increasing support for research on cancer in the nervous system through investigator-initiated basic, translational, and clinical research programs. Joint efforts with NCI include the pediatric and adult brain tumor consortia and an active intramural research program. An initiative on pain research, another priority area, will capitalize on new insights from basic neuroscience research; for example, cellular mechanisms that underlie normal learning and memory may also contribute to the transition from acute to chronic pain. Finally, with support from the planning process and the NANDS Council, NINDS will continue to place a high priority on investigator-initiated research, new investigators, and innovation as the Institute considers initiatives targeting priorities that emerge from the planning process.

Overall Budget Policy:  

NINDS balances investigator-initiated research with targeted solicitations that address mission-critical scientific opportunities and public health needs. Across all scientific and disease areas, programs are tailored to the different requirements of basic, translational, and clinical research. The Institute continues to place a high priority on maintaining an adequate number of competing research project grants to sustain productive research teams, support new investigators, and encourage innovative research. NINDS evaluates the mission relevance of all institute initiatives and of all requests to submit applications for large investigator-initiated projects. The Institute reviews programs in consultation with members of the NINDS Advisory Council and other outside experts, and the results inform decisions concerning future program directions and funding. Intramural Research and Research Management and Support receive modest increases to help offset the cost of pay and other increases.

FY2010 Justification by Activity Detail

Channels, Synapses, and Circuits:

Ion channels, synapses, and circuits of interacting nerve cells are fundamental components of the nervous system. NINDS supports research on how channels, synapses, and circuits operate in the healthy nervous system in the adult and developing brain and on neurological disorders in which they play a major role. The program encompasses basic, translational, and clinical research, all with ultimate goal of advancing treatment and prevention. Epilepsy is among the common disorders in which channels, synapses, and brain circuits are a major focus, and the Institute continues its longstanding research program that has contributed to many advances in epilepsy treatment over the years. In March 2007, the NINDS, working closely with non-governmental organizations and the scientific community, held a major conference "Curing Epilepsy II."  The conference assessed progress against the Epilepsy Benchmarks, which arose from the first "Curing Epilepsy" conference in 2000. The Epilepsy Benchmark process brought NIH, the research community, and non-governmental organizations together to delineate specific goals and designate stewards to monitor progress. In 2008, again following extensive work with the epilepsy research and patient communities, NINDS disseminated updated benchmarks for epilepsy research that will guide research in the coming years.

Budget Policy:  The FY 2010 budget estimate of $193.955 million for this program represents an increase of $2.236 million or 1.2 percent over the FY 2009 estimate. NINDS will continue to balance investigator-initiated and solicited research, including projects funded through the Institute's broad translational research and clinical trials programs. 

Neural Environment:

Fewer than 1 of 10 cells in the human brain are nerve cells. The non-neuronal cells maintain the local environment around nerve cells, fight infections, and control which molecules get into the brain through the blood-brain barrier, among other functions. Neurological disorders may result when non-neuronal cells are compromised or themselves become aggressors, as in cancer, or when viruses, bacteria, or parasites infect the nervous system. Stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, and infectious diseases, including NeuroAIDS are among the diseases in which non-neuronal cells play a central role. NINDS supports basic, translational, and clinical research on the neural environment, with the goal of improving prevention and treatment. The program's long track record of contributions to stroke treatment and prevention have had a major impact on the public health. In 2007, the NINDS Stroke Progress Review Group (PRG), which includes basic and clinical stroke researchers from throughout the U.S., reported a major mid-course review of stroke research. Among the actions that NINDS is taking to address PRG priorities in 2009, the Institute is funding a stroke preclinical research consortium to promote development of new therapies and soliciting research on mechanisms of functional recovery after stroke. Following a 2008 scientific meeting that NINDS convened on genome wide association studies in stroke, the Institute is funding a consortium of researchers to cooperatively pursue the emerging opportunity to identify genes that may hold clues to treating or preventing stroke. Among other activities related to the neural environment in 2008, NINDS solicited research on the dispersal of brain tumor cells in the brain, which is a key problem limiting the success of treatments.

Budget Policy:  The FY 2010 budget estimate of $387.501 million for this program represents an increase of $4.470 million or 1.2 percent over the FY 2009 estimate. NINDS will continue to rely on a balance of solicited and investigator-initiated research, including research through the Institute's broad translational research and clinical trials programs. NINDS is increasing support for research on cancer in the nervous system through ongoing investigator-initiated basic, translational, and clinical research programs and through initiatives, including joint efforts with NCI, such as the pediatric and adult brain tumor consortia. Continuing programs, also in collaboration with NCI, include joint intramural research on brain tumors, solicitations for research on brain tumor dispersal, and translational research centers focused on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of brain tumors. NINDS-led solicitations continuing in FY 2010 also focus on the mechanisms of functional recovery after stroke, stroke genetics, neurological aspects of HIV, understanding and preventing brain tumor dispersal, and angiogenesis in the nervous system. 

Neurodegeneration:

For many neurodegenerative disorders, risk increases in older people. So, these diseases present an increasing challenge to the U.S. as our population distribution ages, and forestalling the impact of these diseases by even a few additional years would have a major impact on public health. Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementias, Huntington's disease, and Parkinson's disease are among the neurodegenerative diseases that affect adults. NINDS has made major contributions to research in these areas, and the Institute continues to support basic, translational, and clinical research to improve treatment and prevention. These include, for example, the Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Disease Centers of Excellence, and the Committee to Identify Neuroprotective Agents for Parkinson's (CINAPS) and Neuroprotection Exploratory Trials in Parkinson's Disease (NET-PD) programs, which together select, develop, and test drugs that slow neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. One crucial insight from neurodegeneration research is the recognition that shared mechanisms contribute to multiple neurodegenerative diseases, and that similar therapeutic strategies may be effective for different disorders. This continues to be a major priority for NINDS research. The Institute is also taking steps to coordinate research that will take advantage of new opportunities to understand how multiple genes interact with the environment to cause neurodegeneration.

Budget Policy:  The FY 2010 budget estimate for this program is $202.615 million, an increase of $2.337 million or 1.2 percent over the FY 2009 estimate. NINDS neurodegeneration research will continue to balance investigator-initiated research and solicited research, including projects funded through the Institute's broad translational research and clinical trials programs. Continuing neurodegeneration program efforts include the Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Disease Centers of Excellence, the CINAPS (Committee to Identify Neuroprotective Agents for Parkinson's disease) program to develop drugs for Parkinson's, and NET-PD (the NIH Exploratory Trials in Parkinson's Disease). The Institute also plans to continue to support genetic studies of Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders through the NINDS Human Genetics Repository and other efforts. A solicitation on advanced tools and technologies for deep brain stimulation in movement disorders continues in 2010.

Neurogenetics:

Gene defects cause hundreds of diseases that affect the nervous system, with symptoms that may be evident early in development or emerge later, at any stage of life. Neurogenetic disorders include the ataxias, Down syndrome, dystonia, lysosomal storage diseases (which include Batten disease and the mucopolysaccharidoses), muscular dystrophies, peripheral neuropathies, Rett syndrome, spinal muscular atrophy, and Tourette syndrome, among many others. Genetics also contributes to autism, which continues to be a high priority for NINDS.   Research has identified hundreds of gene defects that are responsible for diseases, leading to better diagnostics, animal models for testing therapies, and rationally designed interventions that are now showing promise in animals and beginning to enter clinical testing. Identifying gene defects that cause disease, and translating insights from those discoveries into therapies continues to be a major priority for NINDS. Increasingly, new technologies also enable "whole genome screens" that reveal multiple genes that contribute to the susceptibility and progression of common neurological disorders, including stroke, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. This has become another major area of research that NINDS supports through various mechanisms and resources, including the NINDS Human Genetics Repository. In addition to common resources, investigator initiated research, and targeted solicitations, the NINDS scientific workshops catalyze research on neurogenetic disorders, often organized in cooperation with patient voluntary groups and other parts of the NIH, including the Office of Rare Diseases. In 2009, NINDS scientific workshops focus on diverse topics including,translational research in the muscular dystrophies, whole genome screening in stroke, delivery of gene based therapeutics to the nervous system, and the shared neurobiology of autism. NINDS issued a solicitation on translational research for neuromuscular diseases in 2009.

Budget Policy:  The FY 2010 budget estimate of $204.317 million for this program represents an increase of $2.356 million or 1.2 percent over the FY 2009 estimate. NINDS will continue investigator initiated grants and targeted activities in neurogenetics, including projects funded through the Institute's broad translational research and clinical trials programs. NINDS is increasing support for its autism research program, which includes investigator initiated research on the neurological basis of autism and related disorders and potential therapeutic strategies, the Autism Centers for Excellence, and targeted solicitations, including joint initiatives with NIMH, NICHD and other parts of NIH. Among the continuing autism activities for FY2010 is a program announcement on the shared neurobiology of autism and fragile X syndrome.  Other program announcements that continue through 2010 solicit research on generalized and focal dystonias, on translational research for neuromuscular diseases (including muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and on priorities of the ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) research plan, which the NIH developed in cooperation with non-governmental organizations. 

Repair and Plasticity:

NINDS supports extensive research on spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury (TBI), and on repairing damage to the nervous system from disease or trauma. This includes longstanding support for the study of neural stem cells and for research on the brain's innate capacity to adapt through "plasticity."  The continuing NINDS Neural Prosthesis program has pioneered research on devices that restore nervous system function lost to injury or disease, with current emphasis areas that include developing a new generation of devices that take signals directly from the brain and improving technology for deep brain stimulation, which is demonstrated effective or shows promise for several neurological disorders. Stimulated by the high rate of traumatic brain injury among U.S. military personnel, NINDS has enhanced coordination of TBI research within NIH and across the several Federal Agencies that support such research, including the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Recent trans-agency collaborative workshops have focused on TBI classification and on combination therapies for TBI, the latter followed by NINDS collaboration with NICHD on a solicitation for research on multi-drug combinations to promote neurological recovery in TBI. The Institute also led a major 2008 workshop on the special opportunities and challenges in confronting TBI induced by blast injury, with extensive cooperation with the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Among other activities in 2008, NINDS renewed funding for the Facilities of Research Excellence in Spinal Cord Injury (FORE SCI) contract program, which address critical needs for spinal cord injury research, and solicited research on human pluripotent stem cell research using non-embryonic sources.

Budget Policy:  The FY 2010 budget estimate of $157.468 million for this program represents an increase of $1.816 million or 1.2 percent over the FY 2009 estimate. NINDS continues to balance investigator-initiated research and solicitations. Solicitations continuing in 2010 focus on human pluripotent stem cell research using non-embryonic sources and on advanced technology for deep brain stimulation in movement disorders. In 2010, the Institute will also solicit translational and pilot clinical studies for advanced neural prosthetics through milestone-gated funding mechanisms. 

Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience:

Systems of nerve cells in the brain, spinal cord, and body control learning, memory, attention, language, thinking, emotion, movement, the sleep-wake cycle, pain perception, feeding, and other complex behaviors. NINDS supports basic research on how these systems of nerve cells carry out these functions and on counteracting the disruptive effects of neurological disorders, including stroke, trauma, and neurodegenerative diseases, on cognition and other complex behaviors. Migraine and other chronic pain conditions, which are very prevalent disorders, are an important area emphasis in this program. As the largest NIH supporter of research on pain, NINDS is a leader of the NIH Pain Consortium, which promotes collaboration among the NIH institutes and centers that address pain. Among recent activities in conjunction with the Pain Consortium, NINDS is participating in a 2009 solicitation on central nervous system intersections of drug addiction, chronic pain, and analgesia.

Budget Policy:  The FY 2010 budget estimate of $193.157 million for this program represents an increase of $2.226 million or 1.2 percent from the FY 2009 estimate. NINDS continues to balance investigator initiated research and solicitations, including projects funded through the Institute's broad translational research and clinical trials programs. Because of the high prevalence of chronic pain conditions and the opportunities emerging from basic neuroscience, including insights about how mechanisms that underlie learning and memory contribute to the transition from acute to chronic pain, NINDS will also focus initiatives on pain and continue to work with the NIH Pain Consortium and the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience on this cross-cutting issue.

Technology Development, Infrastructure, and Resources:

NINDS programs foster preclinical therapeutics development, provide research resources, promote research on minority health and health disparities, and support clinical trials. In 2009, NINDS renewed the Cooperative Program in Translational Research, which supports milestone driven projects to develop therapies for any neurological disorder up to the point of receiving FDA approval for first testing in people. Continuing NINDS clinical trials programs support research on many diseases, from pilot studies to the planning and execution of major phase III multi-site clinical trials. The Institute has recently developed two new networks to expedite clinical trials. The Clinical Research Collaboration (CRC) engages community physicians in clinical trials to speed clinical research through enhanced recruitment of participants, minimize costs, improve access to clinical trials for diverse patients, and encourage the transfer of research results to clinical practice in community settings. The CRC has developed central data and statistical coordinating resources, trained and certified community physicians, set up a web site that enables physicians and patients to find active studies, and is now conducting its first clinical trials, as well as collecting clinically characterized samples for genetic studies. The Neurological Emergencies Treatment Trials (NETT), which focuses on stroke, head and spinal cord trauma, status epilepticus (continuous seizures), and other neurological emergencies, has also developed all required resources, including clinical sites and coordinating centers, and is also now beginning to conduct clinical trials.

Budget Policy:  The FY 2010 budget estimate for this program of $67.744 million represents an increase of $781 thousand or 1.2 percent over the FY 2009 estimate. The Cooperative Program in Translational Research was renewed in 2009 and is continuing in 2010. This broad program provides milestone-gated funding for investigator-initiated projects from academic and small business laboratories to develop therapies for any disease within the NINDS mission. Among other major efforts continuing in 2010, the NINDS is advancing drugs from the SMA (spinal muscular atrophy) Project through preclinical development and planning for the transition to human clinical testing when that is appropriate. The Anticonvulsant Screening Program, the Specialized Neuroscience Research Programs (SNRPs), Clinical Research Collaboration (CRC) and Neurological Emergencies Treatment Trials (NETT), research cores are among the other technology, infrastructure, and resource programs major programs continuing in 2010.  NINDS also plans to develop a medicinal chemistry resource in FY 2010 to support drug development in academic laboratories.  

Intramural Research:

The NINDS Intramural Research Program conducts basic, translational, and clinical research on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, which is the largest community of neuroscientists in the world. Among the unique resources of the NIH campus, the Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Center is a hospital totally dedicated to clinical research and the NIH Porter Neuroscience Research Center integrates neuroscience across NIH institutes and disciplinary boundaries. Ongoing Intramural activities that respond to high institute priorities include a joint brain tumor program with the National Cancer Institute, the Suburban Hospital and Washington Hospital Center Stroke centers, pioneering research on neural stem cells, investigations of biomarkers to accelerate therapy development for multiple sclerosis, translating gene findings to therapies for neurogenetic diseases, and research on the consequences of head trauma in military personnel. The Intramural Research Program has also been a leader in development of novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) strategies for detecting normal and abnormal function of the brain. Based on the program's internationally recognized success in the development of MRI that uses a much more powerful (7 Tesla) magnet than conventional MRI, in 2009 NINDS Intramural is leading an effort to advance imaging with an even more powerful (11.7 Tesla) device, which promises to provide even greater capability to non-invasively image brain structure and function. 

Budget Policy: The FY 2010 budget estimate of $150.542 million for this program represents an increase of $2.225 million or 1.5 percent over the FY 2009 estimate. The program continues to re-vitalize clinical research with the recruitment of investigators spanning clinical research to translational research. New research teams are focusing on neurosurgical approaches to treating brain tumors; neuroimmunology aimed at treating multiple sclerosis; mechanisms of virus infection and replication in the brain; and basic mechanisms responsible for hereditary spastic paraplegias.

Research Management and Support (RMS):

NINDS RMS activities provide administrative, budgetary, logistical, and scientific support in the review, award, and monitoring of research grants, training awards and research and development contracts. RMS functions also encompass strategic planning, coordination, and evaluation of the Institute's programs, regulatory compliance, international coordination, and liaison with other Federal agencies, Congress, and the public.

Budget Policy:  The FY 2010 budget estimate of $55.466 million represents an increase of $954 thousand or 1.8 percent over the FY 2009 estimate.

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Budget Authority by Object

Budget Authority by Object

	FY 2008 Estimate	FY 2010 P B	Increase or Decrease
Total compensable workyears:
Full-time employment	488	498	10
Full-time equivalent of overtime and holiday hours	1	1	0
Average ES salary	$160,900	$164,100	$3,200
Average GM/GS grade	11.8	11.8	0.0
Average GM/GS salary	$92,100	$94,000	1,900
Average salary, grade established by act of July 1, 1944 (42 U.S.C. 207)	$109,400	$111,600	2,200
Average salary of ungraded positions	122,800	125,300	2500
OBJECT CLASSES	F Y 2009 Estimate	F Y 2010 Estimate	Increase or Decrease
Personnel Compensation:
11.1 Full-time permanent	$27,651,000	$28,974,000	$1,323,000
11.3 Other than full-time permanent	19,716,000	20,673,000	957,000
11.5 Other personnel compensation	1,305,000	1,367,000	62,000
11.7 Military personnel	704,000	738,000	34,000
11.8 Special personnel services payments	6,970,000	7,309,000	339,000
Total, Personnel Compensation	56,346,000	59,061,000	2,715,000
12.0 Personnel benefits	13,335,000	13,977,000	642,000
12.2 Military personnel benefits	558,000	585,000	27,000
13.0 Benefits for former personnel	0	0	0
Subtotal, Pay Costs	70,239,000	73,623,000	3,384,000
21.0 Travel and transportation of persons	3,878,000	3,821,000	(57,000)
22.0 Transportation of things	242,000	239,000	(3,000)
23.1 Rental payments to GSA	0	0	0
23.2 Rental payments to others	119,000	116,000	(3,000)
23.3 Communications, utilities and miscellaneous charges	1,026,000	1,009,000	(17,000)
24.0 Printing and reproduction	330,000	323,000	(7,000)
25.1 Consulting services	4,961,000	4,966,000	5,000
25.2 Other services	10,506,000	10,362,000	(144,000)
25.3 Purchase of goods and services from government accounts	129,183,000	129,879,000	696,000
25.4 Operation and maintenance of facilities	1,650,000	1,629,000	(21,000)
25.5 Research and development contracts	33,653,000	34,715,000	1,062,000
25.6 Medical care	649,000	641,000	(8,000)
25.7 Operation and maintenance of equipment	10,688,000	10,494,000	(194,000)
25.8 Subsistence and support of persons	0	0	0
25.0 Subtotal, Other Contractual Services	191,290,000	192,686,000	1,396,000
26.0 Supplies and materials	8,773,000	8,663,000	(110,000)
31.0 Equipment	11,068,000	10,926,000	(142,000)
32.0 Land and structures	0	0	0
33.0 Investments and loans	0	0	0
41.0 Grants, subsidies and contributions	1,306,375,000	1,321,335,000	14,960,000
42.0 Insurance claims and indemnities	0	0	0
43.0 Interest and dividends	4,000	4,000	0
44.0 Refunds	0	0	0
Subtotal, Non-Pay Costs	1,523,105,000	1,539,122,000	16,017,000
Total Budget Authority by Object	1,593,344,000	1,612,745,000	19,401,000

Includes F T E's which are reimbursed from the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research

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Salaries and Expenses

Salaries and Expenses

OBJECT CLASSES	F Y 2009 Estimate	F Y 2010 PB	Increase or Decrease	Percent Change
Personnel Compensation:
Full-time permanent (11.1)	$27,651,000	$28,974,000	$1,323,000	4.8
Other than full-time permanent (11.3)	19,716,000	20,673,000	957,000	4.9
Other personnel compensation (11.5)	1,305,000	1,367,000	62,000	4.8
Military personnel (11.7)	704,000	738,000	34,000	4.8
Special personnel services payments (11.8)	6,970,000	7,309,000	339,000	4.9
Total Personnel Compensation (11.9)	56,346,000	59,061,000	2,715,000	4.8
Civilian personnel benefits (12.1)	13,335,000	13,977,000	642,000	4.8
Military personnel benefits (12.2)	558,000	585,000	27,000	4.8
Benefits to former personnel (13.0)	0	0	0	0.0
Subtotal, Pay Costs	70,239,000	73,623,000	3,384,000	4.8
Travel (21.0)	3,878,000	3,821,000	(57,000)	-1.5
Transportation of things (22.0)	242,000	239,000	(3,000)	-1.2
Rental payments to others (23.2)	119,000	116,000	(3,000)	-2.5
Communications, utilities and
miscellaneous charges (23.3)	1,026,000	1,009,000	(17,000)	-1.7
Printing and reproduction (24.0)	330,000	323,000	(7,000)	-2.1
Other Contractual Services:
Advisory and assistance services (25.1)	4,961,000	4,966,000	5,000	0.1
Other services (25.2)	10,506,000	10,362,000	(144,000)	-1.4
Purchases from government accounts (25.3)	90,531,000	91,222,000	691,000	0.8
Operation and maintenance of facilities (25.4)	1,650,000	1,629,000	(21,000)	-1.3
Operation and maintenance of equipment (25.7)	10,688,000	10,494,000	(194,000)	-1.8
Subsistence and support of persons (25.8)	0	0	0	0.0
Subtotal Other Contractual Services	118,336,000	118,673,000	337,000	0.3
Supplies and materials (26.0)	8,747,000	8,637,000	(110,000)	-1.3
Subtotal, Non-Pay Costs	132,678,000	132,818,000	140,000	0.1
Total, Administrative Costs	202,917,000	206,441,000	3,524,000	1.7

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Authorizing Legislation

Authorizing Legislation

	PHS Act/ Other Citation	U.S. Code Citation	2009 Amount Authorized	F Y 2009 Estimate	2010 Amount Authorized	F Y 2010 PB
Research and Investigation	Section 301	42§241	Indefinate		Indefinate
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke	Section 402(a)	42§281	Indefinate		Indefinate
Total, Budget Authority				1,593,344,000		1,612,745,000

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Appropriations History

Appropriations History

Fiscal Year	Budget Estimate to Congress	House Allowance	Senate Allowance	Appropriation     1/
2001	1,050,412,000 2/	1,185,767,000	1,189,425,000	1,176,482,000
Rescission				(383,000)
2002	1,316,448,000 2/	1,306,321,000	1,352,055,000	1,328,188,000
Rescission				(1,522,000)
2003	1,432,305,000	1,432,305,000	1,466,005,000	1,466,005,000
Rescission				(9,529,000)
2004	1,468,926,000	1,468,326,000	1,510,926,000	1,510,776,000
Rescission				(9,569,000)
2005	1,545,623,000	1,545,623,000	1,569,100,000	1,539,448,000
Rescission				(12,675,000)
2006	1,550,260,000	1,550,260,000	1,591,924,000	1,550,260,000
Rescission				(1,503,000)
2007	1,524,750,000	1,524,750,000	1,537,703,000	1,534,757,000
Rescission				(0)
2008	1,537,019,000	1,559,106,000	1,573,268,000	1,571,353,000
Rescission				(27,452,000)
2009	1,545,397,000	1,598,521,000	1,588,405,000	1,591,344,000
Rescission				0
2010	1,612,745,000

1/ Reflects enacted supplementals, rescissions, and reappropriations.

2/ Excludes funds for HIV/AIDS research activities consolidated in the NIH Office of AIDS Research.

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Detail of Full-Time Equivalent Employment (FTE)

Details of Full-Time Equivalent Employment (F T E's)

OFFICE/DIVISION	F Y 2008 Actual	F Y 2009 Estimate	F Y 2010 PB
Office of the Director	48	44	46
Division of Extramural Research	84	78	78
Division of Intramural Research	347	336	343
Division of Translational Research	9	12	12
Division of Clinical Research	11	13	13
Division of Minority Health Research	5	5	5
Total	504	488	498
Includes F T E's which are reimbursed from the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research
F T E's supported by funds from Cooperative Research and Development Agreements	(2)	(2)	(2)

 

 

Details of Full-Time Equivalent Employment (F T E's) continued

FISCAL YEAR	Average GM/GS Grade
2006	10.7
2007	13.2
2008	11.8
2009	11.8
2010	11.8

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Detail of Positions

Detail of Positions

GRADE	F Y 2008 Actual	F Y 2009 Estimate	F Y 2010 PB
Total, ES Positions	2	2	2
Total, ES Salary	307,136	321,800	328,200
GM/GS-15	35	33	33
GM/GS-14	41	39	40
GM/GS-13	72	73	77
GS-12	55	47	50
GS-11	41	38	38
GS-10	5	5	5
GS-9	40	38	38
GS-8	21	21	21
GS-7	6	6	8
GS-6	1	1	1
GS-5	0	0	0
GS-4	3	3	3
GS-3	1	1	1
GS-2	0	0	0
GS-1	1	1	1
Subtotal	322	306	316
Grades established by Act of July 1, 1944 (42 U.S.C. 207):
Assistant Surgeon General	0	0	0
Director Grade	6	6	6
Senior Grade	1	1	1
Full Grade	0	0	0
Senior Assistant Grade	0	0	0
Assistant Grade	0	0	0
Subtotal	7	7	7
Ungraded	191	191	191
Total permanent positions	325	309	319
Total positions, end of year	522	505	516
Total full-time equivalent (FTE) employment, end of year	504	488	498
Average ES salary	153,568	160,900	164,100
Average GM/GS grade	11.8	11.8	11.8
Average GM/GS salary	87,942	92,100	94,000

Includes F T E's which are reimbursed from the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research.

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New Positions Requested

New Positions Requested

	FY 2010
	Grade	Number	Annual Salary
Health Scientist Administrator	GS-14	3	$106,145
Staff Scientist	GS-12	2	$85,281
Research Fellow	GS-9	5	$50,408
Total Requested		10