Sign for former President of the United States Donald Trump at an Arizona for Trump rally at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, Image via Gage Skidmore / Flickr.
Biomedical researchers in Missouri stand to lose tens of millions of dollars in funding as President Donald Trump continues to slash the federal government. These cuts — a proposed 4 billion nationwide — threaten recipients of the number one funding source for biomedical research in the country, the National Institutes of Health.
In particular, the cuts would impact Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, which is second in nationwide funding from the NIH. U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.) called the school the “heart of our region’s lifesaving research efforts,” the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported over the weekend.
“It’s more than a financial blow; it’s a betrayal of the families who are depending on breakthroughs in cancer treatment, Alzheimer’s research, and other critical health challenges,” Bell said. “Beyond the immediate damage to our jobs and local economy, these cuts threaten our community’s well-being and jeopardize the futures of so many in the St. Louis region.”
READ MORE: Trump administration medical research cuts could mean $100 million loss in red state
In 2024, WashU received $683 million in research funding from the NIH. The cuts could affect research into heart disease, cancer and diabetes, among other diseases. A federal judge blocked the cuts earlier this month, but only temporarily.
The cuts would be to “indirect funds," the Post-Dispatch reports.
“The United States should have the best medical research in the world. It is accordingly vital to ensure that as many funds as possible go towards direct scientific research costs rather than administrative overhead,” the NIH said in a statement earlier this month.
But losing indirect funds “would blow a huge hole in the budget,” Michael Meers, assistant professor of genetics at WashU told the Post-Dispatch. He said the indirect funding is important, comparing the cuts to trying to fly a plane without cash to build a runway. “It’s a fundamental part of being able to create the conditions to the research,” he said.
These cuts could have a palpable effect. “These are real consequences, longer waits for cures and for diagnosis, slower scientific progress, losing out to competitors around the world, and fewer jobs,” Dr. David J. Skorton, president of the Association of American Medical Colleges, told the New York Times when the cuts were announced. “Those who are facing any health challenges will suffer from less biomedical research.”
Officials say the NIH boosts the economy and creates jobs. “This influx of talent fosters collaborations with biotech and pharmaceutical companies, driving further medical advancements and spurring local and regional economic growth,” WashU officials wrote. “Every $1 million in research funding creates 11 local jobs, generating opportunities in St. Louis and strengthening WashU’s role as a regional economic engine.”
Leadership at WashU said they were taking action on the issue. “We’re mobilized on multiple fronts. Our leadership team is closely reviewing the policy, and our government relations team is engaging with congressional representatives and others to ensure that they understand the consequences of these cuts and are encouraged to act to address this threat to research and its many benefits to society. We also are working with our national organizations to respond to this issue,” they said in a statement.
The University of Missouri also stands to lose from the cuts. “This change would mean significant annual reductions in funding for our vital NIH-sponsored research that saves lives, creates jobs, enhances national security and improves quality of life for people in every part of our state and across the nation,” Christopher Ave, the university’s communications director, told the Post-Dispatch.
“We need to be clear that this is not a problem for the few of us that are sitting up here in our research labs,” Meers said. “It is a problem for every American, every Missourian and every St. Louisan; and it’s important that that’s understood.”
READ MORE: 'Threat to US democracy': Legal experts detail 'radical motives' behind Trump’s mass firings