On Friday, July 31, the House of Representatives passed an FY21 appropriations bill increasing funding for the research and treatment of brain disorders. Among the funding approved was $500 million for the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. The BRAIN Initiative is intended to revolutionize the understanding of the human brain, helping researchers understand more about brain disorders and accelerate the development and applicative of innovative technologies to treat, cure, and prevent brain disorders. The bill also included:
- $2.4 billion in funding for NINDS, an increase of $37 million from FY20;
- $2 billion for NIMH, an increase of $40 million from FY20;
- $5 billion in funding to help current NIH grantees cover the shutdown costs, startup costs, and other costs related to delays in research in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
- $8.55 billion in funding for the National Science Foundation, of which nearly $7 billion is allocated for research and related activities – a $230 million increase over the FY20 appropriation.
The Senate has not yet indicated when or whether it intends to take up appropriations legislation, leaving open the possibility of a continuing resolution later this year.