The University of Virginia’s research funding has been reduced following nationwide cuts to “indirect cost” support by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a major source of federal funds for biomedical research.
The cuts, led by the Trump administration, will impact everything from research and equipment to some staff positions.
In addition to awarding grants that fund scientific research, the NIH gives institutions that host the research projects a percentage to help cover infrastructure and maintenance expenses. These rates for “indirect costs” vary by institution and are negotiated with the NIH.
The NIH said on Feb. 7 that funding for indirect costs will now be set at 15% for all grantees.
This rate will replace any individual rate negotiations by UVA or other recipients, starting Monday, Feb. 10, according to an email sent by UVA’s office of the Vice President for research and signed by Executive Vice President and Provost Ian Baucom and Vice President for Research Lori McMahon.
“This news is concerning, and we are actively assessing the implications for research at UVA,” the email said.
On Feb 10, attorneys general representing 22 states filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to temporarily block this major policy change. Virginia was not among the plaintiffs listed in the lawsuit.
This cut could mean UVA’s funding for indirect costs was cut nearly in half compared to 2023. That year, NIH covered 29% of those expenses for the UVA School of Medicine, according to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research (BRIMR), a nonprofit that tracks such funding. While it remains unclear which UVA research programs will be affected, the email advised researchers to “continue to do your research (unless you are in receipt of a stop order).”
According to Baucom’s email, indirect cost funding covers, among other things, cutting-edge research laboratories, high-speed data processing, national security measures (such as export controls), patient safety protocols (such as human subject protections), radiation safety, hazardous waste disposal and personnel required for administrative and regulatory compliance work.
UVA and UVA Health spokespeople did not answer Charlottesville Tomorrow’s inquiry about the programs that might be affected.
While indirect cost funding is lower than direct cost funding — which covers staff salaries, graduate students and equipment and accounted for 71% of NIH funding to UVA medical school in the 2023 fiscal year, according to BRIMR — the cuts could still have a significant impact.
In the 2023 fiscal year, UVA received $198.5 million in NIH funding for both direct and indirect costs, according to BRIMR. Of that total funding for UVA, $174.2 million was awarded to the medical school.
According to UVA’s letter, while institutions like the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and others are working on their responses to the cuts, UVA is awaiting further clarity. In the meantime, it is encouraging all researchers, regardless of their funding agency, to continue training their PhD students and working with their postdocs.
“Be mindful of your spending against federal grants,” the letter advised.
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The University of Virginia’s medical research funding was reduced due to a federal policy change at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Have you or someone you know been affected by the funding cuts? Let us know and reach out to share confidentially here.
Editors’ note: After publication of this story, a federal judge temporarily blocked the NIH from making its policy change. A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 21.
