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(22 Apr 97) NIH Fights Back Science: 18 April 1997:344=346 (Editorial): If the Udall Parkinson's Bill allocating $100 million to PD research and education should become law, the money will come from the $12.7 billion budget of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), most likely out of the $1.5 billion now allocated to HIV and AIDS research. Quite understandably, NIH vehemently opposes any attempt to wrest control of funding allocation from NIH and delegate it to legislators. The theme of NIH's defense is that it is best qualified to make those decisions, and that "earmarking" by legislation is wrong. (Earmarking by NIH bureaucrats, on the other hand, is quite OK). Advocacy groups for several diseases, including PD, are vigorously lobbying for such legislation, with persuasive arguments. The piece includes a table comparing present federal funding, total and per afflicted person, for PD research against other big-ticket diseases, illustrating the gross inequity of the present system. IMHO, the questions of earmarking, and who shall control choices, will dominate the fight. Don't underestimate the tenacity of NIH bureaucrats and their congressional allies in defending its turf. The first ploy against outright takeover is to schedule hearings beginning next week to discuss, and hopefully to justify, how NIH sets its priorities. Cheers, Joe J. R. Bruman (818) 789-3694 3527 Cody Road Sherman Oaks CA 91403