APS Urges NIH to Reverse Harmful Cuts to Research Costs—Take Action Now

APS Statement on Indirect Cost Cuts and How You Can Take Action

The American Physiological Society (APS) strongly urges the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to reverse its plan to cap indirect costs—also known as facilities and administrative (F&A) costs—at 15% for all grants, a move that threatens life-saving biomedical research.  While this action is currently being weighed by the courts, its implementation would severely undermine the research that drives medical innovation and improves health for all Americans.

At institutions across the country, physiologists are engaged in critical, federally funded research. This research furthers our understanding of acute and chronic diseases such as heart disease, kidney failure, diabetes and obesity. “Capping F&A costs at 15% would immediately cut billions in research funding, disrupting ongoing studies and jeopardizing the search for new treatments and cures,” says APS CEO Scott Steen, CAE, FASAE. “This policy puts the future health of the American people at risk by stalling medical and scientific progress.”

Indirect costs support essential operational expenses, including laboratory space, utilities, and compliance with federal regulations governing animal welfare, research security and biosafety. Careful adherence to these regulations is essential for maintaining research integrity and ensuring accountability to the American public. Without these funds, research cannot move forward.

Drastic cuts to research funding will lead to job losses and harm state and local economies. In the long-term, fewer scientists will be trained, and the U.S. risks losing its position as the global leader in scientific and medical research and innovation. APS calls on the NIH to prioritize life-saving research by fully supporting the costs associated with federal research grants.

APS also urges our members to contact Congress, ensuring their representatives understand the impact of this policy on the future of biomedical research.