The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine

Summary

National Institutes of Health competitive grant funding In the past decade, the National Institutes of Health awarded top scientists $9 billion in competitive grants each year, to find cures for diseases and improve public health.This year, something unusual happened… In the past decade, the National Institutes of Health awarded top scientists $9 billion in competitive grants each year, to find cures for diseases and improve public health.This year, something unusual happened… Starting in January, the Trump administration stalled that funding. By summer, funding lagged by over $2 billion, or 41 percent below average. Starting in January, the Trump administration stalled that funding. By summer, funding lagged by over $2 billion, or 41 percent below average. But in a surprising turn, the N.I.H. began to spend at a breakneck pace and narrow this gap. But in a surprising turn, the N.I.H. began to spend at a breakneck pace and narrow this gap. There was a catch, however: That money went to fewer grants. Which means less research was funded in areas such as aging, diabetes, strokes, cancer and mental health. There was a catch, however: That money went to fewer grants. Which means less research was funded in areas such as aging, diabetes, strokes, cancer and mental health. Includes new grants and competitive grant renewals. In 2025 dollars. To spend its budget, the N.I.H. made an unusual number of large lump-sum payments for many years of research, instead of its usual policy of paying for research one year at a time.As a result of this quiet policy shift, the average payment for competitive grants swelled from $472,000 in the first half of the fiscal year to over $830,000 in the last two months.While this might sound like a boon for researchers, it’s actually a fundamental shift in how grants are funded — one that means more competition for funding, and less money and less time to do the research. In the past, the N.I.H. typically awarded grants in five annual installmen...