About the Special Diabetes Program

The Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research, or Special Diabetes Program, is a special funding program for research on the prevention and cure of type 1 diabetes that began in FY 1998. NIDDK administers the Special Diabetes Program on behalf of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with multiple NIH Institutes and Centers and the CDC, and with input from the Diabetes Mellitus Interagency Coordinating Committee.

The Special Diabetes Program has enabled the creation of unique, innovative, and collaborative research consortia and clinical trials networks focused on the prevention, treatment, and cure of type 1 diabetes. These consortia have made significant research progress and also generated numerous research resources for use by the broad scientific community. More information on research supported by the Program and the resulting scientific accomplishments are found in a Progress Report on the Special Type 1 Diabetes Program.

Legislative and Funding History of the Special Diabetes Program

The Special Diabetes Program supplements regularly appropriated funds that the NIH receives for diabetes research. Special Diabetes Program funding in total has been ~$3.55 billion over 27 years. It began with $30 million per year in FY 1998-2000, increased to $100 million per year in FY 2001-2003, and has remained at $150 million per year since FY 2004, except in years when the funding was reduced through automatic spending cuts (sequestration). Each law for the Program sets an end date, so the Program is limited in time and requires renewal (reauthorization) in law to continue.

Funds for the Program have been provided by the following legislation:

• American Relief Act, 2025 (P.L. 118-158) – provided $39.2 million for the period beginning on January 1, 2025, and ending on March 31, 2025.
• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-42) – provided $160 million per year from the beginning of FY 2024 through December 31, 2024.  P.L. 118-15, P.L. 118-22, and P.L. 118-35 provided partial funding until a full extension was enacted through P.L. 118-42.
• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328) (also see Joint Explanatory Statement) – provided $8.55 million in FY 2023 to restore cuts to the Special Diabetes Program that resulted from Budget Control Act sequestration.
• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260) (PDF, 5,486 KB) – provided $150 million per year in FY 2021-2023.  Other laws (P.L. 116-136 (PDF, 1,031 KB) , P.L. 116-159 (PDF, 331 KB) , and P.L. 116-215 (PDF, 245 KB) ) provided partial funding until a full extension was enacted through P.L. 116-260.
• Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L. 116-136) (PDF, 1,031 KB)   – provided $150 million per year in FY 2020.  Other laws (P.L. 116-59 (PDF, 268 KB) , P.L. 116-69 (PDF, 255 KB) , P.L. 116-94 (PDF, 1,993 KB) ) provided partial funding until a full extension was enacted through P.L. 116-136.
• Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-123) (PDF, 669 KB) – provided $150 million per year in FY 2018-2019
• Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-10) (PDF, 456 KB) – provided $150 million per year in FY 2016-2017
  
• Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-93) (PDF, 345 KB) – provided $150 million in FY 2015
• American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-240) (PDF, 346 KB) – provided $150 million in FY 2014
• Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-309) (PDF, 141 KB) – provided $150 million per year in FY 2012-2013
• Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-275) (PDF, 392 KB) – provided $150 million per year in FY 2010-2011
• Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-173) (PDF, 185 KB) – provided $150 million in FY 2009
• Public Health Service Act Amendment for Diabetes 2002 (P.L. 107-360) (PDF, 119 KB) – provided $150 million per year for FY 2004-2008 
• Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2001 (P.L. 106-554) (PDF, 2,031 KB) – provided an additional $70 million per year for FY 2001-2002 and $100 million for FY 2003
• Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-33) (PDF, 1,868 KB) – provided $30 million per year for FY 1998-2002

Note: The amounts authorized by the above laws have been periodically affected by “sequestration” (automatic spending cuts that occur through the withdrawal of funding for certain government programs.)