The American Society of Hematology (ASH) announced the first recipients of its new program, ASH Bridge Grants, that is designed to provide hematologists with research funding to mitigate the reduction in research support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a result of the recent cuts to federal funding, including a $1.6-billion cut in 2013 and additional cuts that will take place during the next several years as a result of sequestration.
To help address this crisis, ASH committed $9 million to create the grant program to support its members and to sustain their hematology research. “While the establishment of this program represents an unprecedented financial commitment on the part of ASH, we recognize that it provides nowhere near what is needed to replace the NIH funding that has been cut for hematology research,” said ASH President Janis L. Abkowitz, MD. “What we really need is for Congress to understand that medical research is a national priority, which is why it was so important for ASH to support today’s rally at the highest level.”
The bridge grants awarded in April 2013 will support 17 basic, clinical, and translational hematology researchers whose NIH grant applications were deemed excellent by the NIH but that were not funded because of the budget cutbacks. ASH will award at least 30 bridge grants annually for the next 3 years to promote hematologic research. American Society of Hematology Press Release; April 8, 2013
