NIH Funding Changes Disrupt Research, Scientists Say in New Survey

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A new STAT News survey reveals that roughly one in four U.S. scientists have experienced significant disruption to their research due to recent restrictions by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on foreign subawards. The changes have stalled progress on critical studies, forcing researchers to alter or abandon projects across disciplines, from neuroscience to tuberculosis and malaria research.

Why it matters

The impact of the NIH's funding policy changes extends beyond individual research projects, potentially weakening the U.S.'s position as a global leader in scientific innovation. The disruptions come at a time when the scientific community is already grappling with funding cuts and a potential 'brain drain' as researchers consider opportunities abroad.

The details

For researchers like Andres Vidal-Gadea at Illinois State University, the changes have been particularly challenging. Vidal-Gadea's work on Duchenne muscular dystrophy relies on collaborative studies, but the new restrictions have stalled progress on plans to conduct crucial research using mice with collaborators in the Netherlands. The initial rationale for the changes, according to an NIH spokesperson, was to increase accountability and transparency in how taxpayer dollars are spent. However, the implementation has led to project alterations, abandoned research, and a year-long pause in applications while the agency transitioned to a new funding mechanism.

• The NIH announced it would no longer allow American researchers to share federal grants with international partners.
• The NIH introduced the PF5 mechanism, designed to support international collaborations through separate, linked awards to U.S. and foreign partners.

What they’re saying

What’s next

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