The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has halted payments to international research groups, impacting projects totaling approximately $500 million annually. This decision, attributed to concerns about transparency and national security, affects research on cancer, viral infections, and human genetics across various countries.
The controversy stems from past collaborations between US universities (NIH-funded) and Chinese institutions, particularly the Wuhan Virology Laboratory. The unconfirmed theory, favored by President Trump, linking the lab to the COVID-19 pandemic, contributes to the policy's underlying context.
The freeze has left researchers globally uncertain about the future of their projects. Scientists like Javier MartĂnez-Picado and Roderic GuigĂł express concerns about the lack of transparency and the setback for international scientific collaboration. The impact extends to job security, with researchers potentially losing their positions due to funding cuts.
Marta Melé, a computational biologist, highlights the implications for projects studying pediatric genetic data, which is crucial for understanding adult health issues. The funding freeze endangers her team's work and the associated jobs.
This action is part of broader budget cuts under the Trump administration. Significant reductions are proposed for the National Science Foundation (56%), the Centers for Disease Control (nearly 50%), and the Environmental Protection Agency (55%), while defense spending increases. The funding reallocation towards military and border security raises serious concerns about research capabilities.
The situation is prompting Europe to reconsider its reliance on US-led projects like Encode. The need for greater European participation in large-scale scientific projects is underscored, pushing for increased funding and involvement.