Most of the grant applications, according to peer-review participants, are worthy. Experts insist it is very easy to maintain high quality at those rates. But under the Clinton budget, he estimates some 1,500 proposed grants from medical centers around the country will be denied. More than a few researchers with existing grants wouldn't be able to cover inflationary adjustments. And the cutbacks would be a disincentive to young scientists to get into this field.
Potential breakthroughs are real.
Researchers in the areas of cancer, diabetes and AIDS, where extraordinary progress has been made, see bigger possibilities on the horizon. It's a good bet that more than a few of any advances will emanate from NIH grants. These are real investments. A major Duke University study a few years ago demonstrated that scientific advances are making major inroads in curbing disability among the elderly. If that trend accelerates, the potential savings in Medicare costs are substantial.