The
United States has spent trillions of dollars on medical research
since 1965, though a single total is not available due to the complexities of
tracking diverse funding sources and the long timeframe. Total U.S. investment
in medical and health R&D has grown significantly, reaching over $245
billion in 2020 alone, with contributions from federal agencies, private
industry, and academic institutions.
Growing investment: Total U.S. investment in medical and health R&D reached approximately $245.1 billion in 2020, an increase of 11.1% from the previous year.
Federal funding: Federal agencies provided about $61.5 billion in medical and health R&D funding in 2020, accounting for 25.1% of the total. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the largest funder, with a nearly $48 billion budget in 2025, most of which goes to research grants.
Industry and other sources: Private industry is the largest source of funding, investing over $161.8 billion in 2020. Academic institutions, foundations, and state and local governments also provide significant funding.
Tracking challenges: A precise cumulative total from 1965 to the present is not available in a single source, as it requires aggregating data from numerous federal, state, and private sources over a long period.
As of late 2025, the total US spending on medical research since 1965 is not specified in a single figure. However, some insights are available from various reports. Total US spending on research and development (R&D) in 2023 was estimated at $939.6 billion, with total US health expenditures reaching $4.9 trillion. Federal funding for research, with medical research being a major component, accounted for $59.6 billion of the R&D performed by institutions of higher education in fiscal year (FY) 2023.
Federal
medical research funding
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the world's largest public funder of biomedical research, had a budget of approximately $48 billion in fiscal year 2024. The NIH budget fluctuates year by year; for example, it saw consistent increases from FY2016 through FY2023, followed by a slight decrease in FY2024. Data from the National Science Foundation tracks federal R&D obligations going back to 1967, and details obligations by performer and field of science.
Total
US health spending
U.S. health expenditures have increased significantly over time. In 1970, total health spending was $74.1 billion, and by 2023, it had grown to $4.9 trillion. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimate that health spending will continue to increase, reaching $5.6 trillion in 2025.
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Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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