Hydrocephalus Association Medical Advisory Board And Scientific Advisory Board Issue Response to Cuts to NIH Indirect Cost Payments
The Hydrocephalus Association Medical Advisory Board and Scientific Advisory Board urge the Administration to rescind the directive for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to cap indirect costs for research funding at 15%. As the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research —and the primary supporter of hydrocephalus research—NIH funding is critical to lifesaving medical advancements. Further, the intense rigor of research supported by NIH not only leads to groundbreaking discoveries, but also reduces overall healthcare costs by guiding effective decision-making around diagnosis, treatments, and procedures that either support or advise against medical treatment or surgical intervention. These drastic cuts will cripple hydrocephalus research and devastate scientific progress nationwide, jeopardizing the health of millions of Americans.
Indirect costs are a critical component of biomedical research, supporting essential infrastructure such as laboratory operations, utilities for sophisticated high-powered research equipment, and personnel that, among other responsibilities, maintain shared facilities like imaging labs for diagnostic studies. They also play a crucial role in training the next generation of biomedical scientists, ensuring continued innovation in the field.
We are particularly concerned that these cuts will disproportionately affect small and mid-sized research institutions, many of which lack the financial reserves to absorb this funding gap. The number of smaller and medium-sized research facilities in the country far exceeds large ones and, unlike larger institutions, rely heavily on NIH support to sustain their operations. If implemented, the proposed cap could force the closure of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of research labs around the country, leading to setbacks in research. For the first time in the history of the condition, hydrocephalus has two ongoing human trials that are in the midst of testing treatments that could be abruptly halted, leaving patients in limbo and without hope. Additionally, these cuts will have a ripple effect on local economies that depend on research universities, hospitals, and other institutions supported by indirect NIH funding.
The Hydrocephalus Association Medical Advisory Board and Scientific Advisory Board are deeply alarmed by this decision and its far-reaching consequences. It will severely damage the American research workforce and put the United States behind in its efforts to advance new biomedical breakthroughs. We urge the Administration to rescind the decision and, instead, protect the next generation of research and scientific breakthroughs not just for the hydrocephalus community, but for all patients who depend on NIH-funded research.
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The Medical Advisory Board (MAB) was established in 1986 to advise the work of the Hydrocephalus Association. It is composed of 25 of the leading medical experts in the diagnosis and treatment of hydrocephalus and includes neurosurgeons, neurologists, neonatologists, nurses, and neuropsychologists.
Legal Update: Shortly after 22 state attorney generals filed a lawsuit against the new directive, a federal judge issued an order that blocked the cap from being implemented in those states. Two other lawsuits from public and private universities and hospitals were filed against the change as well. The Hydrocephalus Association in partnership with the MAB will continue to monitor this situation closely and provide updates as more information becomes available.
The Hydrocephalus Association remains committed to advancing research to improve the lives of those affected by hydrocephalus.