But $657 million was used for research in laboratories directly owned and operated by the National Institutes of Health as part of its "intramural research" program.

"Several of us have become quite concerned about the trend in the last half dozen years," said Dr. J. Edward Rall, the agency's deputy director for intramural research.

NIH devotes 10% of its funding to research within its own facilities (intramural research).

The director is Robert Desimone, formerly director of intramural research at the National Institute for Mental Health.

In 2006, the NICHD issued US $903 million in grants and spent US$359 million on direct operations, which includes intramural research conducted on NIH campuses.

ORD performs intramural research in association with the VA hospitals, and over 70% of its investigators also provide direct patient care.

They were protected by Joseph E. Rall, the National Institutes director of intramural research.

The work is a major advance, said Gerald Chader, director of intramural research at the National Eye Institute.

Dr. Philip Chen, deputy assistant director of intramural research at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, looked into the case.

Prior to joining the McGovern Institute in 2004, he was the director of intramural research at the National Institute of Mental Health.