Scientists criticize Trump plan to alter NIH grant review process
Critics say the proposed peer-review changes would cut transparency and risk politicizing funding, and public comment on the rule appears to have closed early.
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What happened
The Trump administration has proposed a change to peer review of grants at the National Institutes of Health. Scientists say the change would reduce transparency and risk politicizing the review process. The NIH appears to have closed public comment on the rule ahead of schedule.
Why it matters
Critics warn the changes could cut future medical breakthroughs short, after federal research funding helped produce a cystic fibrosis treatment.
Timeline
- Oct 13, 3:50 PM ET: A researcher criticized the proposed change, saying it would reduce transparency and risk politicizing grant reviews.
- Oct 14, 2:00 PM ET: The NIH appeared to shut down public comments on the peer-review rule change ahead of schedule.
- Oct 14, 3:50 PM ET: Commentators said increased political control over NIH research funding had already led to major cuts and disruptions to lifesaving research.
Coverage
- Cystic fibrosis patients got their ‘miracle drug’ thanks to federal research funding – new Trump administration rules may cut future miracles short (The Conversation)
- NIH appears to shut down public comments on science peer-review rule change ahead of schedule (scientificamerican.com)
- Latest Trump administration proposal to change NIH research grant system draws scientists’ ire (scientificamerican.com)
- Dr. Douglas Weckstein: NIH grant cuts could delay treatments... (Dr. Douglas Weckstein)
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