Local research is under threat due to proposed budget cuts by the Trump administration. Stephen Love, CEO of the DFW Hospital Council, warns that the cuts could impact staffing and compromise patient safety. A federal judge ruled in favor of 22 Democratic state attorneys general who sued to stop the cuts, which would affect medical and public health research at universities nationwide. The National Institutes of Health announced the reduction in grants, which cover costs for labs, infrastructure, utilities, and faculty.
In 2023, the NIH funded about 50,000 research grants totaling $35 billion, with around 27-28% going towards indirect costs. The proposed limit on indirect payments to 15% could save $4 billion a year, but critics argue that it could lead to a loss of funding for researchers and workers, halting life-saving health research.
The UNT Health Science Center, along with many other universities and researchers, could face gaps in research budgets if the cuts are implemented. Stephen Love emphasizes the potential impact on research, faculty retention, and patient safety. White House Spokesperson Kush Desai defends the cuts as redirecting funds away from administrative expenses towards legitimate scientific research.
A hearing on the case is scheduled for February 21, with the Trump administration yet to respond to the issue. Local and national stakeholders, including universities and healthcare organizations, are working to understand the potential implications of the budget cuts on critical research efforts.
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