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AAI Expresses Thanks to Dr. Fauci for More Than Five Decades of Outstanding Public Service and Scientific Leadership

AAI President Mark M. Davis, Ph.D., issued a statement on behalf of AAI in response to the news that Dr. Anthony Fauci (DFAAI, AAI ’73) will be stepping down from his federal government posts, including as Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), at the end of the year. In the statement, Dr. Davis expresses gratitude to Dr. Fauci for his “invaluable role in advancing immunological discovery and its application to human health. His innumerable scientific achievements have been matched by his exceptional communication skills, which have not only strengthened NIAID and the research community it supports, but also provided the American public—and people around the globe—with clear, critically important scientific information, particularly during public health emergencies.”

AAI has worked closely with Fauci, a longtime AAI member and recipient of numerous prestigious AAI awards, for many years. According to Davis, “AAI looks forward to continuing to work with Dr. Fauci for the duration of his government tenure and to maintaining our longstanding relationship as he pursues new ways to advance biomedical research and strengthen the research enterprise.”

Read the full statement here.

AAI Issues Statement on President Biden’s FY 2023 Budget Request for NIH

AAI Committee on Public Affairs Chair Peter E. Jensen, M.D., recently issued a statement on President Joe Biden’s fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget request for NIH. The statement expresses appreciation for the president's longtime support for NIH, concern about this year's insufficient funding request, and support for increased NIH and pandemic funding.

The president’s request would increase the regular NIH budget by just $275 million (0.6%) in FY 2023, reducing the agency’s purchasing power after adjusting for inflation. Separately, he requests a $4 billion funding increase for the newly-created Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) and proposes a comprehensive pandemic preparedness plan (to be paid for through mandatory funding that is not subject to the annual appropriations process). Dr. Jensen’s statement recommends an increase in the regular NIH budget of $4 billion for FY 2023, a ”substantial” funding increase for ARPA-H, and full funding of the president’s pandemic preparedness plan.

Read the full statement here.