Urgent Advocacy Action Alert: Protecting U.S. Medical Research Funding
Threats to NIH research funding—including cuts to indirect cost rates, pauses on research communications, grant reviews, and new funding—are disrupting medical advancements and delaying treatments for chronic illnesses like eosinophil-associated diseases.
Read on to learn how you can take action to advocate for continued investment in medical research and the protection of critical disability rights.
Impacts to Medical Research
A series of executive orders from the White House has disrupted federally funded medical research, delaying progress on treatments for a wide range of diseases, including eosinophil-associated diseases.
Across multiple health agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), federally-funded research projects are being impacted by communication pauses, staffing uncertainties, and halted grant review processes. These disruptions not only threaten ongoing projects but also jeopardize the next generation of scientists.
Additionally, the NIH has paused the review of new grant applications, delaying the allocation of millions of research dollars. It has also announced reductions to grant funding for research institutions, capping indirect cost support at a significantly lower level than the historical average. These indirect costs are vital for research institutions, covering essential expenses such as equipment, facility maintenance, utilities, and support staff.
Consequences of These Actions
The medical research community is already feeling the impact as scientific discovery slows. Universities are pausing spending on medical research, freezing hiring, and reevaluating existing positions. Scientists who applied for federal funding are left in limbo, with no clear timeline for application reviews. Many/most study sections and all counsel meetings have been cancelled which has essentially resulted in a shut down of all funding.
What APFED Is Doing
APFED is communicating with members of Congress to highlight the impact of these executive orders and urging them to fully fund medical research. We are also sharing information and data with other national organizations to align efforts.
How You Can Help
Make your voice heard by contacting those who represent you in Congress. Urge them to protect federal funding for medical research that supports people with chronic illnesses like eosinophil-associated diseases. APFED had developed a letter to help you communicate with your elected officials.
Sample Letter to Congress to Protect Medical Research (.docx)
To find who represents you in Congress, visit: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member