Mayor Menino Announces Boston Extends NIH funding Streak to 17 years, $23.4B total

Jun 19, 2012

On the heels of an already exciting first day at the 2012 International BIO Convention, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced that Boston continues to lead the nation in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, extending its streak to 17 years with $23.4 billion in total awards over that time.  Read the NIH report here.

"Our institutions and talented workforce have once again put Boston at the front of the pack in NIH funding. Boston is a global life sciences hub – a super cluster - it is innovation collaboration and success." - Mayor Menino

In 2011 Boston’s world renowned hospitals, universities, public, private and non-profit agencies received over 3,600 grants for a total of $1.7 billion or 7.3% of the total funds distributed.  Boston finished ahead of New York, Baltimore, Seattle and Philadelphia, which ranked numbers two through five respectively.

This record exemplifies the quality, capabilities, and performance of Boston’s hospitals, universities, and research institutions, as well as illustrates the small but expanding number of private companies and non-profit organizations located throughout Boston competing for NIH funding. As health care, education and research continue to play a fundamental role in an increasingly knowledge-based economy, the medical research being done in Boston provides a crucial and growing segment to the regional economy.

At a 2012 Bio International Convention kick-off event Mayor Menino joined Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Carol R. Johnson and Vertex Pharmaceuticals CEO Dr. Jeff Leiden to announce a three-year approximately $1.5 million collaboration between Vertex and BPS, and Vertex’s lease of 98,000 SF for small-scale manufacturing and other logistical functions  in the Innovation District's  Marine Industrial Park.

About the 2012 International BIO Convention

This week, Mayor Menino is welcoming international and national delegates to Boston for the world’s largest biotech and life sciences convention. The 2012 International BIO Convention is being held June 18-21 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in the Innovation District. Attendance is projected to be 16,000 and will infuse $26.8 million into the City’s economy during the week.

Follow all of the news from the 2012 BIO International Convention as its happening on Twitter @mayortommenino @bostonredevelop @bostonbio2012.