A new funding guideline for the National Institutes of Health is making its way through Congress.

Yesterday the Senate approved a budget resolution that includes $59.7 billion for health categories, including the NIH. This represents nearly 6% more than President Bush requested for 2009, and it's 12% more than the current funding level. The resolution will act as a guideline for Congressional planners when they set appropriations for 2009, beginning this October.

The House is expected to approve the resolution when it votes on the measure today, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported.

This is the latest of recent Congressional moves to up NIH funding from its flat levels. Last month the Senate introduced supplementary funding for the NIH into a bill funding the Iraq war.

But don't get your hopes up yet.