The Trump administration's cuts to National Institutes of Health grants in May, followed by partial reinstatements, have disrupted research and training programs across Maryland, according to researchers. The University of Maryland's UMD-REACH program, which supports undergraduate minority students in communication sciences and disorders, was among 78 Maryland grants initially terminated. While 47 projects, including UMD-REACH, had their funding restored by July, program officials say the interruption has taken a toll.
"We're happy about the reinstatement, but at the same time, it's taken a lot of time and work for a bunch of people who would rather be helping people learn things and helping people be healthier," said Matthew Goupell, a co-director of UMD-REACH. The program's research and student training slowed during the funding gap, and the uncertainty has diverted energy away from scientific progress. "We had to all spend a lot of time dealing with the uncertainty, and that just takes away from the ability to progress the science," Goupell added. "It's about a limitation on our time and our productivity for these slowdowns."
The grant termination was justified by NIH policy that does not prioritize research programs as part of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, according to an email Goupell received from NIH. The cuts have raised concerns among researchers about the stability of federal funding for health-related research, which is critical for innovation in fields like communication disorders. The disruption highlights the broader impact of policy changes on scientific advancement and the training of future health professionals.
For more details, read the full article here.
