NIH Funding Freeze Delays $1.5 Billion in Medical Research Grants

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has halted the review of new grant applications due to a freeze on Federal Register notices imposed by the Trump administration. This delay has stalled around 16,000 applications for approximately $1.5 billion in funding, impacting research on diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.

The freeze has prevented required meetings from taking place, leaving applications in limbo. NIH officials are working to lift the restriction to prevent further disruption to the agency’s $48 billion research budget, which supports over 300,000 researchers at 2,500 institutions.

The situation has sparked concern among scientists, with some calling it an attempt to dismantle the existing research funding system. The Trump administration has also proposed capping NIH’s indirect research costs at 15%, a move scientists warn could cripple medical research.

Meanwhile, NIH has already faced staff cuts, and broader changes could be on the horizon. Some conservative policymakers are pushing for NIH funds to be distributed through state block grants instead. The freeze has fueled fears of deeper restructuring, especially as Trump’s nominee for NIH director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, has been critical of the agency.

A federal judge in Boston is currently reviewing whether the NIH funding cap can proceed, while scientists warn of long-term consequences for biomedical research in the U.S.

Source: NPR