NIH Funding Cuts Could Have ‘Devastating Impact’ on Medical Advancements, Chicago Researchers Say
Threat to Maternal Health Research
Dr. Rachel Caskey has dedicated her career to finding ways to improve maternal child health, but a halt in federal funding could threaten years of research.
“Our UIC Maternal Health Research Center of Excellence is using NIH funding to eliminate maternal morbidity and mortality and promote maternal health equity across Illinois,” said Caskey, professor and head of the Department of Medicine at University of Illinois at Chicago. “The impact of this Center of Excellence will improve the lives of women and children in communities across our city, state, and we hope the country.”
Funding Cuts to Overhead Costs
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced a new policy to cut payments toward overhead costs for research institutions that receive its grants. The new policy would cap “indirect costs” of research at 15%, which could leave universities with major budget gaps.
In the 2024 fiscal year, UIC received more than 1,000 NIH-funded awards. With expenditures of $200 million, $63 million were indirect costs, Caskey said.
Impact on Medical Institutions
The proposed cap would cut indirect cost recovery by more than 70% at the University of Illinois Chicago, which could have a devastating impact on the institution’s ability to conduct life-saving research, Caskey said.
At Rush University, there are more than 270 active clinical trials underway, but the proposed cuts could limit researchers’ ability to make medical advancements, said Dr. Robert Higgins, president and chief academic officer at the university.
“While we seem like this is an exercise in trimming the fat from a fiscal standpoint, at the national level, it is in fact cutting into our ability to advance treatments, to develop new therapies and pharmaceuticals that ultimately will help us understand diseases and save lives,” Higgins said. “It will eliminate that hope that our patients need and deserve.”
Risk to Medical Advancements
The NIH is under “political attack,” but medical research is critical for finding cures to diseases and saving lives, said Dr. Scott Andre Oakes, professor of pathology and vice dean for clinical science research at the University of Chicago.
“We need to remember that diseases are purple and medical research is perfect,” Oakes said, referring to health research being a nonpartisan issue. “All Americans are susceptible to disease, and all of us benefit from the new treatments that come from the research supported by the NIH. Withdrawing or decreasing funding for the NIH will stall our collective efforts to find new cures and leave patients without hope.”
Lawyers’ Action
Last week, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with 21 other Democratic attorneys general, announced a lawsuit to block the Trump administration from cutting off funding.
“The NIH is under attack, and medical research is critical for finding cures to diseases and saving lives,” said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. “Research is able to continue because of the lawsuit blocking the policy from going into effect. This is being fought in courts, and that’s why there may be a temporary reprieve. I hope it goes beyond temporary, but this research should not be interrupted.”
Conclusion
The proposed cuts to NIH funding could have a devastating impact on medical advancements, particularly in the field of maternal health. The proposed cap on indirect costs could leave universities with major budget gaps, limiting their ability to conduct life-saving research. It is crucial that the NIH continues to receive adequate funding to support medical research and advancements.
FAQs
* What is the proposed cap on indirect costs?
The proposed cap would cut indirect cost recovery by more than 70% at the University of Illinois Chicago and other institutions.
* What is the impact of this policy change?
The policy change could limit researchers’ ability to make medical advancements, resulting in a delay in the development of new treatments and pharmaceuticals.
* What is being done to challenge this policy?
The Illinois Attorney General and 21 other Democratic attorneys general have filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration from cutting off funding.
* What is the current status of the policy?
The policy has been blocked by a lawsuit, but the situation remains uncertain, and researchers are anxious about the potential impact on their work.
