Cuts in NIH funding could arrive sooner than expected

Two weeks ago, President Donald Trump announced a budget for fiscal year 2018 that included an 18 percent reduction in HHS funding. Now, it appears federal dollars for medical research could be pulled earlier than initially expected.

The newly announced proposals would eliminate $1.2 billion from a budget of $31.6 billion for NIH in December 2016's continuing resolution for this year. The 2017 fiscal year runs through October, meaning such cuts would involve removing funds from programs already in progress. HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, appearing before the appropriations subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives, defended cuts to medical research and NIH.

“About 30 percent of the grant money that goes out is used for indirect expenses, which as you know means that money goes for something other than the research that's being done,” Price said.

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Nicholas Leider, Managing Editor

Nicholas joined TriMed in 2016 as the managing editor of the Chicago office. After receiving his master’s from Roosevelt University, he worked in various writing/editing roles for magazines ranging in topic from billiards to metallurgy. Currently on Chicago’s north side, Nicholas keeps busy by running, reading and talking to his two cats.

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