GSA is committed to supporting the genetics community in continuing to advocate for scientific research and the advancement of the field. We have been actively monitoring changes coming from the new United States Presidential administration, including a funding freeze and more recently, changes to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding structure. 

On February 7, NIH announced that it is cutting the grant indirect rate to 15%, regardless of previously negotiated rates, effective immediately for current and future grants. Indirect costs, also known as Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs, cover administrative expenses key to doing research like supporting staff and facilities and maintaining labs, plus other items like environmental safety and support for regulatory reporting. These changes will greatly impact scientific research and output in the United States and affect universities, medical centers, and other institutions supported by NIH grants. Twenty-two states filed lawsuits to block these cuts, and other legal action is currently being taken. In response to the suits, a federal judge blocked NIH from implementing the policy. This action, however, is temporary, as the next step is an upcoming hearing. Regardless of what happens with this specific notice, Congress can set indirect rates during budget talks coming in the Spring, so the issue is far from settled.

The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) has shared a statement on this notice and the importance of this type of funding, and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has provided useful resources including an infographic, one-pager outlining common F&A research costs, and more.

The research enterprise needs your help

There is power in numbers and making your voices heard. Sharing firsthand experiences with members of Congress is crucial during these times. Now more than ever, we must communicate the importance of supporting biomedical research at our universities and research institutes and science in general. Find additional details about dedicated NIH funding in your state here. 

What can you do?

If you are a U.S. citizen, it is essential that you stand up for science and share your concerns with your elected congressional representatives in the House and Senate. Use this Estimated Single Year Loss of NIH Funding if 15% Indirect Cost Rate is Imposed table provided by Research!America to find your state and communicate to Congress the corresponding loss of funds for that state.

  • Write to Congress

    You can write an email or a letter sharing your thoughts on decisions coming down from the new Administration, including Executive Orders and these cuts to NIH indirect rates.

    It’s easy to find contact information for your Representative and Senators online and craft your message. Share why the decision affects scientific research in the U.S. and include personal anecdotes if possible.  

    You can use the details provided by FASEB in this Legislative Alert to compose your message. 
  • Call Your Representative and Senators 

    Find your representative’s phone number through this directory and place a call. When a staff member answers, introduce yourself—provide your name and address—and briefly explain your concerns as well as how and why these changes impact how you conduct research. It helps to share personal anecdotes and clearly connect the impact to medical or therapeutic outcomes as well as the health and wellbeing of our fellow citizens. It’s also helpful to relay how many jobs your university supports and its impact to the region, state, or even nationwide.

    Call several times! If you get a voicemail, don’t be discouraged—leave a message and try again later. If you’re comfortable doing so, leave your contact information for follow-up. If you have any issues finding the correct phone number, call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and they can assist you. 

    If your representative supports policy that hurts scientific research and funding, don’t lose hope. Make sure you outline how supporting research benefits their constituents and provide examples. Maybe share your day to day work in the lab, including training the next generation of scientists, medical practitioners and innovators,  and how these costs make your work possible. Some examples you can provide include ensuring labs are safe environments for students and other researchers through jobs in biosafety oversight; financial support for purchasing and managing equipment; support of core facilities that enable internationally leading research, and much more.

    Congressional members care about jobs in their district, how your work impacts human health and disease, the competitiveness of the U.S. research enterprise, and economic prosperity in their states.    

    Find useful scripts here created by GSA Public Communication and Engagement Committee member Liz Marnik that you can use for an email and a phone call. 

The action items outlined here, as detailed above, only apply to U.S. citizens; however, these changes and decisions affect the entire U.S. scientific enterprise and indeed, scientific research and discovery worldwide. There are ways you can also help, regardless of where you are!

  • Organize and educate within your community
    Look for organizations doing work on the ground and in your communities—volunteer! Educate the public whenever possible on the importance of scientific research and funding. Combat misinformation about science and these key administrative expenses. 

Finally, we invite you to share your experiences with us. How have these changes affected your work, research, and day to day? Email Society@genetics-gsa.org. Now more than ever, it is important to build community and we want to reassure you GSA remains steadfast in supporting you and protecting science. While this is a time of unprecedented change, our Society believes in sound evidence-based science and data-driven discovery. Read more about our commitment in a recent letter by GSA President Brenda Andrews. 

We have dedicated members from all over the world who care deeply about the support of genetics and genomics research and we strive to keep everyone informed—please stay tuned for future updates.

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