Illinois Joins Nearly Two Dozen States Suing Trump Administration to Halt Cuts in Medical Research Funding
Attorney General Kwame Raoul Leads Effort to Block Funding Cuts
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is leading a coalition of 21 other Democratic attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to block cuts in federal funding for medical and public health institutions. The lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts’ federal court, aims to halt the administration’s order capping the federal government’s “indirect costs” of research at 15%.
Researchers Warn of “Catastrophic Effects” on Medical Research
Raoul and the coalition of attorneys general argue that the funding cuts would have “catastrophic effects” on medical research, leading to a halt in the development of new treatments and cures. The University of Illinois system, for example, relies on about $67 million in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding annually, which has helped develop an updated drug to treat blood cancer in children.
NIH Cuts Would “Grind to a Halt” Critical Research
The University of Illinois Chicago estimates it would lose $47 million in NIH facilities and administration funding, while Northwestern University President Michael Schill warned that the school is bracing for “serious financial impacts.” The NIH supports 60% of the school’s indirect costs.
Researchers Fear Loss of Funding Would Stifle Innovation
Dr. Melissa Simon, vice chair for research in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, called the move a “dangerous” and “catastrophic” step. “The ecosystem required to support our research, whether in a basic science lab, in the community, in the hospital or in a clinical trial, all of that requires a lot of people,” she said. “The support for managing finances, subcontractors, the institutional review board that reviews the ethics and safety of studies, electricity, rent, the phone bill — all those things are just a part of the full ecosystem required to support research.”
Consequences of the Cuts
The research grants Simon receives from the NIH explicitly prohibit her from using those funds to cover indirect costs. “Facility and administrative costs cover the very basic needs required to support research projects,” she said. “In order to do my research, I need power to plug my laptop in. I can’t pay for a computer to do my work on the grant. The software needs to be purchased. I can’t put an electric bill on the grant. ‘This is a big blow. Who is going to pay for the rent?'”
Conclusion
The Trump administration’s decision to cap indirect costs at 15% would have devastating effects on medical research, leading to a halt in the development of new treatments and cures. The lawsuit filed by Attorney General Raoul and the coalition of Democratic attorneys general aims to block this move and ensure that medical research continues to receive the necessary funding to make breakthroughs.
FAQs
* What is the issue with the Trump administration’s decision to cap indirect costs at 15%?
The decision would lead to a halt in the development of new treatments and cures, as well as a reduction in the quality of research.
* What is the impact on researchers and institutions?
Researchers would face significant challenges in conducting their work, and institutions would struggle to maintain their research programs.
* What is the position of the University of Illinois and Northwestern University on the issue?
The University of Illinois system estimates it would lose $47 million in NIH facilities and administration funding, while Northwestern University President Michael Schill warned that the school is bracing for “serious financial impacts.”
* What is the position of Dr. Melissa Simon on the issue?
Dr. Simon, vice chair for research in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, called the move a “dangerous” and “catastrophic” step, stating that it would “erode the environment research needs to be able to foster innovation.”
