A laboratory studying sickle cell anemia at the cell and molecular therapy laboratory of the National Heart, Lung and the Blood Institute, at the National Institutes of Health on February 8, 2024, in Bethesda, MD.
Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images
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Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images
The National Institutes of Health put a significant type of funding for medical research in universities, medical schools, research hospitals and other scientific institutions.
In the last step by the Trump administration affecting scientific researchThe NIH claims that the agency limits the financing of “indirect costs” to 15% of subsidies. It is below what many institutions have obtained to maintain buildings and equipment and pay the assistance staff and other general costs. For example, Harvard receives 68% and Yale obtains 67%, according to the NIH.
The NIH claims that the new policy, which marks a major change in the way the agency finances research, is more online on what private foundations pay.
“Most of the private foundations that finance research provide indirect costs considerably lower than those of the federal government, and universities easily accept subsidies from these foundations,” said NIH in a notification published on Friday announcing the change.
“Although aware of the subsidies of the beneficiaries, in particular” new or inexperienced organizations “their quality of life”, says the ad.
The NIH claims that change will apply to current and future subsidies, and even suggests that the new policy would apply retroactively. But in response to questions on Saturday, the Department of Health and Social Services, which oversees the NIH, told NPR only if HHS “has the power to make these retrospective changes for current subsidies and obliges the beneficiaries to return the ‘ excess of general expenses they have received “. Officials have “currently chosen not to do so to facilitate the implementation of the new rate”. But “we will continue to assess this choice of policy and if it is in the best interest of the American taxpayer”.
The NIH spent more than $ 35 billion during the year 2023 for nearly 50,000 subsidies to more than 300,000 researchers in more than 2,500 universities, medical schools and other research establishments in the United States, according to the agency. This includes $ 9 billion for indirect costs.
The new policy, which comes into force on Monday, is condemned by many researchers.
“It is an infallible way to paralyze research and innovation that will save lives” ” Matt OwensPresident of the government relations council, an association of research universities and university medical centers, said in a statement. “The reimbursement of administrative facilities and expenses is an integral part of the total costs of the world’s class search.”
Owens says that his organization “examines this change of policy carefully because it contradicts current law and policy”.
“American competitors will savor this self-inflicted injury,” says Owens. “We urge NIH leaders to cancel this dangerous policy before its damage is felt by the Americans.”
These feelings have been taken up by other medical researchers.
“We are all in shock”, Dr. George DaleyThe dean of the Harvard Medical School, wrote NPR in an email. “It would decimate medical research.”
The announcement comes as many researchers are Already anxious due to Other steps that the new administration has takenIncluding the restriction of communication and travel by NIH and other federal health agencies and the freezing of certain research subsidies.