The following is a statement by Association of American Universities President Barbara R. Snyder on an administration order to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to cease all previously appropriated funding for any American extramural medical research, likely for the remainder of this fiscal year.
I was alarmed to learn that the administration has ordered the National Institutes of Health to simply cease all previously appropriated funding for any American extramural medical research, likely for the remainder of this fiscal year.
This is a cessation of critical appropriated funding for ongoing and new clinical trials of treatments and cures for American patients who need it most. It will end ongoing life-saving cancer research, desperately needed Alzheimer’s research, and diabetes research, among others. Also endangered are the training grants that give promising American medical scientists critical education and experience.
This is undeniably an unforced error since this will not only harm current and future American patients, but the disruptive and chilling effect of this sudden holding back of promised funds will further jeopardize the future of the American medical research enterprise.
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