Trump cuts to US medical research could slow breakthroughs, scientists warn of risks to patients

LOS ANGELES - Scientists across the country are warning that proposed cuts to US biomedical research funding could have devastating consequences—not just for jobs, but for the medical breakthroughs that impact millions of Americans.

The Trump administration’s plan to cap reimbursement for indirect costs—essential expenses like lab maintenance, safety oversight, and support staff—at 15% could leave universities and hospitals unable to sustain critical studies.

How funding cuts could affect medical advancements

By the numbers:

The cuts could stall cancer treatments in rural areas, neurological therapies for intellectual disorders, and key clinical trials across the country, researchers say. With many labs relying on National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, the uncertainty has put life-saving work in jeopardy.

• NIH grants supported 412,000 jobs and generated $92 billion in economic activity in 2023.
• A 15% cap on indirect costs would cut at least 58,000 jobs nationwide, according to economic estimates.
• Most of the NIH’s $35 billion budget funds research at universities, hospitals, and institutions in all 50 states.
• Rural cancer patients are 10% more likely to die than those in metropolitan areas, highlighting the importance of NIH-funded treatments.

The cuts are not just numbers on a budget sheet—they could determine whether new medical treatments ever reach patients.

What they're saying:

At Johns Hopkins University, neuroscientist Richard Huganir has spent years studying the SynGap1 gene, linked to intellectual disabilities, and developing a potential treatment. But without secure funding for clinical trials, his work may never reach the children it could help.

"The problem is for the kids, there’s a window of time to treat them. We’re running out of time," Huganir told the Associated Press.

The impact of these funding disruptions extends far beyond individual projects. Boston’s Northeastern University neuroscientist Rebecca Shansky told the Associated Press that researchers across the country are uncertain about the future of their work. "Everyone I know is basically freaking out because we suddenly don’t know how much longer we’ll be able to keep our labs open," she said.

The Associated Press also spoke with Dr. Otis Brawley of Johns Hopkins University, who warned that funding cuts could have life-and-death consequences by limiting research into underserved populations. "We’re actually going to kill people is what it amounts to because we’re not studying how to get appropriate care to all people," he said.

FILE - Lab Technician Carter Tavaglione loads at Janus G3 automated workstation with coronavirus test samples at Advagenix, a molecular diagnostics laboratory, on August 05, 2020 in Rockville, Maryland.  (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Beyond immediate concerns, experts fear long-term damage to medical innovation in the US. Dr. Kimryn Rathmell, former National Cancer Institute director, told the Associated Press that halting funding now could derail breakthroughs for years. "Once you lose expertise and infrastructure, you can’t just restart it overnight," she said.

With no clear timeline for funding decisions, researchers warn that medical advancements—from cancer treatments to neurological therapies—may remain out of reach for the patients who need them most.

What’s at stake for patients and families?

Big picture view:

Scientists say the impact of these cuts goes far beyond labs and research institutions—it could delay treatments and clinical trials that directly affect patients.

• Cancer patients in rural states like Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming rely on NIH-funded programs to access new treatments. Without proper funding, fewer trials could be available for those in remote areas.
• At Johns Hopkins University, scientists studying the SynGap1 gene, linked to certain intellectual disabilities, are racing to get a promising treatment into human trials. Funding delays could mean missing the critical early treatment window for affected children.
• Pain and trauma research at Northeastern University is in limbo as researchers await NIH grant decisions that have been stalled by funding uncertainty.

"Everyone I know is basically freaking out because we suddenly don’t know how much longer we’ll be able to keep our labs open," neuroscientist Rebecca Shansky of Northeastern University told the Associated Press. 

What these cuts mean for future medical care

What's next:

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the NIH funding cap, but researchers remain uncertain about the future. Some scientists are already seeing their work caught in the administration’s anti-diversity crackdown, further delaying critical studies.

Lawmakers have pressed Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Trump’s nominee for NIH director, on how he will address the crisis. Bhattacharya has said he will review the issue but has not committed to reversing the changes.

Without a resolution, scientists fear the US could lose its position as a global leader in medical research, with consequences reaching every corner of healthcare—from cancer treatment to neuroscience and drug development.