Sixty-eight president of APS.

One of the most pressing challenges is how to take advantage of the unprecedented opportunities that exist today for progress in biomedical research. Recent advances in the understanding of basic cellular and molecular processes provide the opportunity for us not only to unravel the mysteries of normal physiology but also to identify specific defects that contribute to the pathophysiology of various diseases. Pursuit of these opportunities is dependent in large measure on funding from the NIH for research project grants. Unfortunately, most of the growth in NIH funding in recent years has been in the areas of earmarked appropriations and Small Business Initiation Grants, and the total amount of dollars available for research project grants has been relatively flat since 1987. Indeed, funding by NIH for unsolicited research project grants has fallen to an all-time low of 15% during FY 1995. In an attempt to identify ways to reverse this downward trend, the APS along with the other member societies of the FASEB convened in October 1994 a “Consensus Conference on FY 1996 Federal Research Funding in the Biomedical and Related Life Sciences.” Participating in the Conference were representatives of the Federation’s nine member societies, including scientists from universities, industry, and government