@ruilulab.bsky.social
Reposted
Like many labs, we lost an R01 grant on Parkinson's dementia that scored single digits but was cut after NIH council-approval due to multi-year funding. If this persists next year - which seems likely - research in US will be decimated. Though...to be fair, we are probably already there.
While the administration has said it is cutting “woke programs” that “poison the minds of Americans", it actually funded fewer grants in every area of science and medicine.
“They brought everything to a stop,” said Sarah Kobrin, a branch chief at the N.I.H.’s National Cancer Institute
“They brought everything to a stop,” said Sarah Kobrin, a branch chief at the N.I.H.’s National Cancer Institute
The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine (Gift Article)
A quiet policy change means the government is making fewer bets on long-term science.
www.nytimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Like many labs, we lost an R01 grant on Parkinson's dementia that scored single digits but was cut after NIH council-approval due to multi-year funding. If this persists next year - which seems likely - research in US will be decimated. Though...to be fair, we are probably already there.
Reposted
Agree, NIH staff saved the day. Despite their heroic effort, the bad multiyear funding (MYF) policy from Vought's OMB means fewer grants, fewer cures, & research workforce brain drain.
Any NIH appropriations bill must include language that limits the use of MYF in FY2026 - or this trend continues.
Any NIH appropriations bill must include language that limits the use of MYF in FY2026 - or this trend continues.
@aatishb.bsky.social got me on the record. “My colleagues did an outstanding job to work their butts off to approve things.” I swear it's true. It's still true at #NIH.
The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine (Gift Article)
A quiet policy change means the government is making fewer bets on long-term science.
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Agree, NIH staff saved the day. Despite their heroic effort, the bad multiyear funding (MYF) policy from Vought's OMB means fewer grants, fewer cures, & research workforce brain drain.
Any NIH appropriations bill must include language that limits the use of MYF in FY2026 - or this trend continues.
Any NIH appropriations bill must include language that limits the use of MYF in FY2026 - or this trend continues.
Reposted
NIH spent all its $ but...
4 months of multi-year funding cut the total number of awards by 22%.
Scientists, wake up. (Gift link)
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
4 months of multi-year funding cut the total number of awards by 22%.
Scientists, wake up. (Gift link)
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine (Gift Article)
A quiet policy change means the government is making fewer bets on long-term science.
www.linkedin.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:59 PM
NIH spent all its $ but...
4 months of multi-year funding cut the total number of awards by 22%.
Scientists, wake up. (Gift link)
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
4 months of multi-year funding cut the total number of awards by 22%.
Scientists, wake up. (Gift link)
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 1:03 AM
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
Reposted
A CR until January 30th at FY24 levels will mean continued ultra conservative funding policies at the NIH. Expect the MYF "policy" to continue too. Not a great scenario considering the appropriations bills on the table look promising.
November 10, 2025 at 1:06 AM
A CR until January 30th at FY24 levels will mean continued ultra conservative funding policies at the NIH. Expect the MYF "policy" to continue too. Not a great scenario considering the appropriations bills on the table look promising.
Reposted
A New Thread on NIH Forward Funding
I recently posted an analysis of forward funding of NIH grants from 2015-25.
This analysis was flawed and should be ignored. I apologize for the misleading information
I present an analysis of my error and a revised analysis which I am confident is right.
1/25
I recently posted an analysis of forward funding of NIH grants from 2015-25.
This analysis was flawed and should be ignored. I apologize for the misleading information
I present an analysis of my error and a revised analysis which I am confident is right.
1/25
a cartoon moose in a tuxedo is standing next to a squirrel and saying this time for sure .
ALT: a cartoon moose in a tuxedo is standing next to a squirrel and saying this time for sure .
media.tenor.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:57 PM
A New Thread on NIH Forward Funding
I recently posted an analysis of forward funding of NIH grants from 2015-25.
This analysis was flawed and should be ignored. I apologize for the misleading information
I present an analysis of my error and a revised analysis which I am confident is right.
1/25
I recently posted an analysis of forward funding of NIH grants from 2015-25.
This analysis was flawed and should be ignored. I apologize for the misleading information
I present an analysis of my error and a revised analysis which I am confident is right.
1/25
Reposted
A Nature poll found that 75% of U.S. researchers are considering leaving the country.
Guyz, even the *historians* are leaving or contemplating / likely to go. Including, at least 3 historians that I know of in my subfield. 😢
Guyz, even the *historians* are leaving or contemplating / likely to go. Including, at least 3 historians that I know of in my subfield. 😢
Top researchers consider leaving U.S. amid funding cuts: 'The science world is ending'
A poll from the journal Nature found that 75% of researchers in the U.S. are considering leaving the country. That includes a man who’s been dubbed the "Mozart of Math." Stephanie Sy examines what’s b...
www.pbs.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:50 PM
A Nature poll found that 75% of U.S. researchers are considering leaving the country.
Guyz, even the *historians* are leaving or contemplating / likely to go. Including, at least 3 historians that I know of in my subfield. 😢
Guyz, even the *historians* are leaving or contemplating / likely to go. Including, at least 3 historians that I know of in my subfield. 😢
Reposted
One of the more in-depth pieces I've seen on how the abrupt switch to multi year funding is harming biomedical research. Luckily, the proposed FY26 Senate appropriations bill has protections against this. Just another reason why we can't have a CR that's a blank check.
How New Trump Multiyear Policy Makes NIH Grants Even Harder To Get
The new Trump administration multiyear funding policy for NIH grants has dropped National Cancer Institute grant funding rates from one in 10 applicants to one in 25.
www.forbes.com
October 29, 2025 at 11:14 AM
One of the more in-depth pieces I've seen on how the abrupt switch to multi year funding is harming biomedical research. Luckily, the proposed FY26 Senate appropriations bill has protections against this. Just another reason why we can't have a CR that's a blank check.
Reposted
$40 billion dollars is the size of the entire NIH budget.
Trump says his $40B bailout for Argentina's failing libertarian economy is "not gonna make a big difference for our country."
Really?
Imagine if we invested those billions on healthcare and housing for Americans, instead of bailing out Trump's pals abroad.
Really?
Imagine if we invested those billions on healthcare and housing for Americans, instead of bailing out Trump's pals abroad.
October 16, 2025 at 8:10 PM
$40 billion dollars is the size of the entire NIH budget.
Reposted
Neat trick if you polycolonal ab's suck. Incubate them with fixed cells with a KO of your protein of interest, then spin. Protocol here: www.med.upenn.edu/markslab/ass...
I was amazed how well it worked on first try (I'm sure that I can completely eliminate unspecific bands)
#WesternBlot #cellsky
I was amazed how well it worked on first try (I'm sure that I can completely eliminate unspecific bands)
#WesternBlot #cellsky
October 2, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Neat trick if you polycolonal ab's suck. Incubate them with fixed cells with a KO of your protein of interest, then spin. Protocol here: www.med.upenn.edu/markslab/ass...
I was amazed how well it worked on first try (I'm sure that I can completely eliminate unspecific bands)
#WesternBlot #cellsky
I was amazed how well it worked on first try (I'm sure that I can completely eliminate unspecific bands)
#WesternBlot #cellsky
Reposted
A couple of related-unrelated thoughts that have swirling in my head:
1. This is a bad time to become a new PI in the US. Probably the worst since WWII. If you're negotiating for a position, know your road is way harder than it was for the people on your TT committee. Negotiate accordingly.
1. This is a bad time to become a new PI in the US. Probably the worst since WWII. If you're negotiating for a position, know your road is way harder than it was for the people on your TT committee. Negotiate accordingly.
October 3, 2025 at 2:48 PM
A couple of related-unrelated thoughts that have swirling in my head:
1. This is a bad time to become a new PI in the US. Probably the worst since WWII. If you're negotiating for a position, know your road is way harder than it was for the people on your TT committee. Negotiate accordingly.
1. This is a bad time to become a new PI in the US. Probably the worst since WWII. If you're negotiating for a position, know your road is way harder than it was for the people on your TT committee. Negotiate accordingly.
Reposted
I think NHLBI mostly ignored with instructions about multi-year funding as well (and perhaps others).
October 1, 2025 at 5:34 PM
I think NHLBI mostly ignored with instructions about multi-year funding as well (and perhaps others).
Reposted
So, for R01s, NCI, committed 110% of the funds from FY24 in FY25, yet made 91% as many awards, and 440/589 = 75% as many new awards.
Similar patterns are seen for other mechanism, likely reflecting the effect of multi-year funding.
4/n
Similar patterns are seen for other mechanism, likely reflecting the effect of multi-year funding.
4/n
October 1, 2025 at 4:08 PM
So, for R01s, NCI, committed 110% of the funds from FY24 in FY25, yet made 91% as many awards, and 440/589 = 75% as many new awards.
Similar patterns are seen for other mechanism, likely reflecting the effect of multi-year funding.
4/n
Similar patterns are seen for other mechanism, likely reflecting the effect of multi-year funding.
4/n
Reposted
The fiscal year is over.
So how was the NIH appropriation committed?
A long thread with institute by institute results about where the money went.
So how was the NIH appropriation committed?
A long thread with institute by institute results about where the money went.
a white cat is sitting on a box with the words where written on it .
ALT: a white cat is sitting on a box with the words where written on it .
media.tenor.com
October 1, 2025 at 4:08 PM
The fiscal year is over.
So how was the NIH appropriation committed?
A long thread with institute by institute results about where the money went.
So how was the NIH appropriation committed?
A long thread with institute by institute results about where the money went.
Reposted
Staff members at the NIH seem to have done the impossible: spend the agency's $48 billion budget.
“Everyone has been rallying together to clean up the mess, but it’s a mess that did not need to be made,” an NIH program officer told me.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
“Everyone has been rallying together to clean up the mess, but it’s a mess that did not need to be made,” an NIH program officer told me.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
NIH races to spend its 2025 grant money — but fewer projects win funding
Despite political obstacles, officials are on track to disburse all of the research funds allocated to US biomedical behemoth.
www.nature.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Staff members at the NIH seem to have done the impossible: spend the agency's $48 billion budget.
“Everyone has been rallying together to clean up the mess, but it’s a mess that did not need to be made,” an NIH program officer told me.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
“Everyone has been rallying together to clean up the mess, but it’s a mess that did not need to be made,” an NIH program officer told me.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted
In 2024, there were about 17,616 new projects awarded by the NIH. In 2025, this number was 11,190 (my number includes things like supplements). That is an ~37% cut in funding of new projects by the NIH.
September 29, 2025 at 7:12 PM
In 2024, there were about 17,616 new projects awarded by the NIH. In 2025, this number was 11,190 (my number includes things like supplements). That is an ~37% cut in funding of new projects by the NIH.
Reposted
Here are the results in terms of the number of projects.
The number of funded projects in FY2025 is 4014 fewer than the number for FY2024.
2/3
The number of funded projects in FY2025 is 4014 fewer than the number for FY2024.
2/3
September 29, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Here are the results in terms of the number of projects.
The number of funded projects in FY2025 is 4014 fewer than the number for FY2024.
2/3
The number of funded projects in FY2025 is 4014 fewer than the number for FY2024.
2/3
Reposted
A good article about the issues arising from the new NIH policy of awarding the entirety of a grant’s funds upfront.
www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...
www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...
NIH pulled off a ‘near miracle.’ Scientists say there’s still a problem.
The National Institutes of Health is on track to give away all of its grant money to labs, but research on cancer, aging and diabetes is still being left behind.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 27, 2025 at 5:44 PM
A good article about the issues arising from the new NIH policy of awarding the entirety of a grant’s funds upfront.
www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...
www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...
Reposted
This seems to indicate that NIH staff know what OMB is trying to do with forcing multi-year awards, they're going to try to negotiate aggressively in public, and most interestingly, they're somehow able to publish a document like this in order to do that. (1/2)
NCI sent a newsletter this morning with a general outline for a FY27 funding proposal. It seems...normal? Proposes ambitious increase and mentions disparities research and vaccination.
September 26, 2025 at 8:48 PM
This seems to indicate that NIH staff know what OMB is trying to do with forcing multi-year awards, they're going to try to negotiate aggressively in public, and most interestingly, they're somehow able to publish a document like this in order to do that. (1/2)
Reposted
It looks like NIH is working hard to spend down the money. That's good. But let's look at a few of my favorite IC's to see how the MYF policy has affected the # of new grants awarded per fiscal year despite the same $ spent (or close to).
Updated funding curve (with two weeks to go in the fiscal year)
(Posted on jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g... )
(Posted on jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g... )
September 23, 2025 at 3:44 PM
It looks like NIH is working hard to spend down the money. That's good. But let's look at a few of my favorite IC's to see how the MYF policy has affected the # of new grants awarded per fiscal year despite the same $ spent (or close to).
Reposted
NCI:
2022 - 2963 new grants awarded
2023 - 2966 new grants
2024 - 2612
2025 - 1431
😐
2022 - 2963 new grants awarded
2023 - 2966 new grants
2024 - 2612
2025 - 1431
😐
September 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
NCI:
2022 - 2963 new grants awarded
2023 - 2966 new grants
2024 - 2612
2025 - 1431
😐
2022 - 2963 new grants awarded
2023 - 2966 new grants
2024 - 2612
2025 - 1431
😐
Reposted
NIAID:
2022 - 2258 new grants
2023 - 2182 new grants
2024 - 2217
2025 - 1584
😐
2022 - 2258 new grants
2023 - 2182 new grants
2024 - 2217
2025 - 1584
😐
September 23, 2025 at 3:53 PM
NIAID:
2022 - 2258 new grants
2023 - 2182 new grants
2024 - 2217
2025 - 1584
😐
2022 - 2258 new grants
2023 - 2182 new grants
2024 - 2217
2025 - 1584
😐
Reposted
Also, of the 128 new R01, 35 of them have been issued as multi-year. Three two-year, six three year and 26 four year. That is another ~ 41 new R01 that will not be funded this year due to the multi-year funding policy
September 22, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Also, of the 128 new R01, 35 of them have been issued as multi-year. Three two-year, six three year and 26 four year. That is another ~ 41 new R01 that will not be funded this year due to the multi-year funding policy
Reposted
📊 A new national poll shows 71% of voters want Congress to increase federal funding for medical research.
Cuts would stall progress toward cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, blood disorders, and more.
🔗 https://bit.ly/3Kfkq8c
#Fight4Hematology #HemeSky #ResearchSavesLives
Cuts would stall progress toward cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, blood disorders, and more.
🔗 https://bit.ly/3Kfkq8c
#Fight4Hematology #HemeSky #ResearchSavesLives
September 22, 2025 at 5:30 PM
📊 A new national poll shows 71% of voters want Congress to increase federal funding for medical research.
Cuts would stall progress toward cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, blood disorders, and more.
🔗 https://bit.ly/3Kfkq8c
#Fight4Hematology #HemeSky #ResearchSavesLives
Cuts would stall progress toward cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, blood disorders, and more.
🔗 https://bit.ly/3Kfkq8c
#Fight4Hematology #HemeSky #ResearchSavesLives
Reposted
The House Republican budget bill is sneaky because it pretends to keep NIH funding constant. But it doesn't. Here's why. (1/6)
September 21, 2025 at 9:36 PM
The House Republican budget bill is sneaky because it pretends to keep NIH funding constant. But it doesn't. Here's why. (1/6)