NIH and DOD Sign Agreement Allowing Fund Transfers

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Defense (DOD) have signed an agreement to “support the advanced development of medical countermeasures against pandemic influenza, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, and emerging infectious diseases.” Under the agreement, NIH will provide funding, scientific expertise, and access to relevant research and products, while DOD will use its contracting and acquisition infrastructure to fund and manage research and development efforts. The agencies will jointly set research priorities and meet at least quarterly. The agreement itself does not commit funding and is set to remain in effect through September 30, 2036, unless extended or terminated earlier.

Critics of the agreement, including Democrats in Congress, worry that it could provide DOD with easier access to NIH funding—especially from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases—that is used to fund research on emerging infectious diseases and biodefense.