Biomedical Research Under Threat: Urge Congress to Act Now!

A Friday evening plea from a concerned scientist

Hi friends,

I am writing tonight from a place of deep worry and concern. The academic science institutions in the USA that are supported by NIH are all scrambling and I have been in conversations with NIH funded researchers and support staff across the country who are worried about losing their jobs and their research (including myself if I am being honest right now).

The Situation

The last few weeks have been rough for science, but today the NIH suddenly announced they are cutting all grant indirects to a set 15% regardless of the agreed upon rate (a nice thread about this is here).

For those unaware indirect costs may sound wasteful, in fact I am sure the administration will tell you they are, but they're not.

They help employ support staff, pay health insurance fees and other fringe benefits of the people on the project, pay for building maintenance, lab maintenance, electricity and more. You can read more here about indirects from someone who use to work for NIH.

They say this is effective immediately for current and future grants - even though they agreed to something else and institutions have budgeted that amount.

This will cause an immediate huge budget shortfall at every institution that receives NIH funds. I don't think I can stress enough how devastating this will be if it stays. This is more than an impact on institutions - it will severely hinder all scientific progress in the USA, and as a consequence will also greatly impact the USA economy. If you don’t believe me you can read my last post about the impact of NIH funding on our economy here.

Less indirects will lead to layoffs and lower return on investment. It will also greatly harm the ability to do scientific research in the USA.

There are questions about whether this is legal, as it looks like there are laws stating this must go through congress. I expect lawsuits will be filed, but we also MUST hold our elected representatives responsible for taking action. You can read this great STAT piece on this crisis here.

My plea

If you value biomedical science research in the United States and appreciate and learn from scientists like me, then I ask that you please contact your elected representatives about this issue using the script I developed based off of this newsletter and my last Substack (linked above).

Right now, for those of us who aren’t lawyers, using our voice in this way is our only recourse.

Script Background

UPDATED: Below you will now find two scripts - a longer one for email and a shorter one for calls. I am trying to make this as easy for you as possible. A modified version of the script is also up on 5 calls.

A follower transferred the script to ResistBot. If you need something more quick and easy Text SIGN PBNZEY to 50409 or share this link https://resist.bot/petitions/PBNZEYScript

Some policy experts say calls matter most, then direct emails (not from an app) but the things I hear on this are mixed. Ultimately, anything we do counts. So take whatever action is doable for you.

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Email Script

Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a [scientist, researcher, concerned citizen, etc.] from [Your City/State]. I’m calling to urge [Representative/Senator’s Name] to support NIH and NSF funding and to immediately reverse the Trump administration’s decision to cap NIH indirect costs at 15%.

This decision will cause a massive funding shortfall at research institutions across the country, forcing layoffs, reducing support staff, and jeopardizing critical scientific research. Indirect costs aren’t wasteful. They pay for essential infrastructure, maintenance, and support staff to ensure that research can happen. This sudden change undermines years of financial planning and creates a devastating budget crisis overnight.

NIH and NSF funding doesn’t just support scientific progress—they fuel the U.S. economy. Every $1 NIH invests results in $2.46 of economic activity. NIH-funded research has led to significant breakthroughs that improve human health. In 2023 alone, NIH funding supported over 400,000 jobs and generated nearly $93 billion in economic activity. Cutting indirect costs will mean fewer jobs, fewer discoveries, and a weakened global standing in science and innovation.

Please publicly oppose this NIH policy change and work with congress to reverse it. I also ask that [Representative/Senator’s Name] support sustained, robust funding for NIH and NSF to protect the future of American scientific research and its economic benefits. Can I count on them to take action?

Thank you for your time and for supporting American research and innovation. I appreciate your leadership on this critical issue.

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Call Script

Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a [scientist/researcher/concerned citizen] from [Your City/State]. I’m calling to urge [Representative/Senator’s Name] to support NIH and NSF funding and to reverse the decision to cap NIH indirect costs at 15%.

This cap will devastate research institutions, leading to layoffs, reduced staff, and will jeopardize scientific progress. Indirect costs fund essential infrastructure and support needed for discoveries that drive innovation and economic growth.

Every $1 from NIH generates $2.46 in economic activity, supporting over 400,000 jobs in 2023 alone. Cutting indirect costs means fewer jobs, fewer breakthroughs, and a weaker U.S. standing in science.

Please oppose this change and work to reverse it while supporting strong NIH and NSF funding. Can I count on [Representative/Senator’s Name] to take action?

Thank you for your time and support.

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That’s it friends, I have nothing else tonight beyond a hope that this decision is reversed. However, hope requires action and is a conscious decision. So, I plan to do my part to advocate for this. Please share and encourage all your friends to call/email as well. - A concerned scientist, mom, and human.

Photo by Ronak Valobobhai on Unsplash