Alabama needs NIH funding!

Dear Governor Ivey,

We are writing to you as citizens of Alabama who are deeply concerned about the economic impact the NIH funding freeze will mean for our state. This is not a partisan issue. This is an issue that affects all Alabamians.

·        NIH awards $386 million in funding to Alabama. 

·        NIH supports 4,769 jobs in Alabama

·        NIH supports $909 million in economic activity

·        Bio industry Impact in the state is 12,786 jobs and 1235 businesses

·        The top NIH funded institutions in Alabama are

o   UAB (Birmingham, AL)

o   Auburn (Auburn, AL)

o   Stillman College (Tuscaloosa, AL)

o   University of South Alabama (Mobile, AL)

o   Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, AL)

o   Southern Research Institute (Birmingham, AL)

o   CFD Research Corporation (Huntsville, AL)

o   Alabama State University (Montgomery, AL)

o   Hudson-Alpha Institute for Biotechnology (Huntsville, AL)

o   Alabama Fire College (Tuscaloosa, AL)

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is the largest employer in the state and is in the top 1% of public, private, and international organizations funded by the NIH. In the past decade, UAB brought in $5.3 billion in research funding and received $715 million in fiscal year 2023 alone with $58 million of this funding coming from the NIH through 319 awards. Since 2020, the NIH has awarded UAB almost $917 million. This has allowed UAB enrollment to grow by 17% in the past 10 years despite undergraduate enrollment decreasing nationally in the same timeframe. UAB generates significant impacts for its employees and the state in terms of economic, employment, and government revenue and drives a significant amount of the Alabama economy every year.  

In addition to the financial investment in our communities, cutting-edge research has evolved from these investments in science. For example, UAB is nationally recognized for research advances and for its healthcare training programs. UAB is the largest hospital in Alabama with UAB hospital training more than 1200 interns, residents, and fellows at campuses in Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, and Selma. Significant improvement in the treatment and care of children with childhood cancer, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, asthma, infectious disease, vaccine development, kidney disease, congenital hear disease, complications from premature birth, and numerous other childhood diseases.

According to the latest data available from the National Science Foundation’s HERD survey, UAB ranks fifth among public universities and 14th overall nationwide in clinical trials expenditures. In 2023, there were 1,469 active clinical trials at UAB. The goal is to reach even more Alabamians with the benefits of clinical trials — not just in Birmingham but in cities around the state. This is more important than ever as trials of new precision medicines bring better, more targeted treatments to patients. Because of UAB’s position in clinical trials, Alabamians will be some of the first in the country with access to these treatments

We understand that budgetary decisions are complex. However, we believe that continued investment in NIH-funded research is crucial for the long-term health and prosperity of Alabama. Cutting-edge research conducted at institutions like UAB has led to significant advancements in cancer treatment, infectious disease prevention, and treatment for childhood illnesses improving the lives of Alabamians and contributing to the state's global reputation for innovation.