"NIH director Jay Bhattacharya explained the restructure at an event with other top agency officials on 30 January. "It's a complete transformation of [the NIAID] away from this old model" that has historically prioritized research on HIV, biodefence and pandemic preparedness, he said. The institute will focus more on basic immunology and other infectious diseases currently affecting people in the United States, he added, rather than on predicting future diseases."
"About one-third of the NIAID's US$6.6-billion budget currently funds projects involving emerging infectious diseases and biodefence. The research studies pathogens of concern and monitors their spread, and develops medical countermeasures against threats from radiation exposure, chemicals and infectious diseases."
"Just because we say we're going to stop caring about these issues doesn't make the issues go away - it just makes us less prepared," she says."
Staff at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases were instructed to remove the words "biodefense" and "pandemic preparedness" from institute web pages. Leadership announced a restructuring that will de-emphasize research on HIV, biodefense and pandemic preparedness and prioritize basic immunology and infectious diseases currently affecting people in the United States rather than predicting future diseases. Approximately one-third of NIAID's US$6.6-billion budget funds emerging infectious-disease and biodefense projects that study pathogens, monitor spread, and develop medical countermeasures. Critics warn that deprioritizing these areas will reduce preparedness for evolving pathogens that spill over from wildlife.
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