by CGA – The United for Medical Research released new economic data last week that showcases the fundamental impact of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding on U.S. job growth in the health and life sciences industries. The update finds that NIH funding directly and indirectly supported more than 432,000 jobs in 2011 alone and generated more than $62.1 billion in new economic activity. This new data is an update from UMR’s May 2011 report commissioned by Everett M. Ehrlich, Ph.D., entitled, “An Economic Engine: NIH Research, Employment, and the Future of the Medical Innovation Sector.” The update also shows the lack of sustained investment in the agency is beginning to have an impact. The decrease in NIH funding between 2010 and 2011, which was in part attributable to the end of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, forecasted a decrease of approximately 55,000 jobs. To access the one-paged data summary and see the state by state data, click here. In FY 2011, the state of North Carolina received $1.063 billion dollars from NIH, which helped to create a total employment of 20,571, including 18,340 jobs within North Carolina.

United for Medical Research’s Website