NIH Cuts Threaten Research, Economy Despite Court Order

The Trump administration's proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, including a cap on indirect cost recovery at 15%, have sparked widespread concern among universities and research institutions across the United States. UAB’s Heersink School of Medicine, which ranks 28th in NIH funding, could lose an estimated $70 million annually, threatening jobs and research in Birmingham. Massachusetts, heavily reliant on NIH funds, faces a potential billion-dollar impact, according to Governor Maura Healey, who emphasized the economic and life-saving importance of ongoing research. These cuts could halt significant medical research, impacting patients like six-year-old Cailen Vela, who suffers from a rare cancer. Despite a court order blocking the cuts, NIH funding remains stalled, affecting research programs nationwide. Governor Healey has called on business leaders to advocate against these cuts, highlighting the ripple effects on the broader economy and public health outcomes.