In the Presidential Address in June of 1998 (1), I proudly announced that the recently adopted Five Year Plan of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) contained the goal of allocating one of every three dollars of total public support to research awards and grants by the end of five years. I pledged to keep the members of the Professional Section apprised of our progress toward that goal. The general approach envisaged gradual increases in funding during the first three years, with more steep increases during the final two years.
During the baseline fiscal year (FY) of 1998, before the initiation of the Five Year Plan, total public support was 90.8 million dollars, of which 15.5 million dollars, or 17.1%, was devoted to research awards and grants. During FY 1999, the first year of the Five Year Plan, total public support was 101.6 million dollars, of which 18.2 million dollars, or 17.9%, went to research awards and grants. During the past year, FY 2000, the second year of the Five Year Plan, total public support was 117.8 million dollars, of which 22.4 million dollars, or 19.0%, was allocated to research awards and grants.
Although the largest increases are due in the final two years, we still have a long way to go. Members of the Professional Section need to use their influence (with both their patients and the ADA) to ensure that this ambitious goal is reached.
References
Address correspondence to Mayer B. Davidson, Charles R. Drew University, Clinical Trials Unit, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 0059-3051. E-mail: [email protected].
