by For Ondine Cleaver, a passion for science was born of a child’s love for animals. Every day in her laboratory in Ut Southwestern Medical Center channels that passionate by examining genetics behind how cells form in organs and tissues.
She strives one day to replace or regenerate sick organs or tissue. That potential life-changing research is now in balance, since President Donald Trump’s government is looking for a new national health policy institutes that $ 4 billion in federal financing would cut off medical research in the universities and hospitals of the country, including in Dallas-Fort Worth and Texas.
The austerity, announced early last month and not yet adopted, aims to reduce the indirect costs for all NIH subsidies, so that the costs with a rate of 15% are closed. The Trump government has described these costs as overhead, although institutions have said that the expenditure is vital to support research infrastructure. This includes buying laboratory equipment and technology and paying support staff.
“The United States are a world leader in biomedical research,” said Cleaver, speaking on behalf of her and not for her university, where she is a professor in molecular biology. “If you think of the number of laboratories, just like mine in Texas that would suddenly become inactive without that nih financing, it would be devastating, not just for me, but for everyone.”
Cleaver’s views and those of other researchers from UT Southwestern and the University of Texas in Dallas who spoke The Dallas Morning News Are their own and do not reflect those of their institutions.
But they conquer a feeling of unease in the scientific community of Noord -Texas: the fear of research and innovation is endangered, the inability to attract or train scientific talent, the threat to economic growth and for clinical studies and the patients who depend on them.
NIH cuts part of the wider federal effort
The proposed NIH budget reductions are part of a broader, cost-saving overhaul by the Trump government that has seen dismissals at federal agencies and the conclusion of government programs.
Last month, a federal judge in Massachusetts stopped the Trump government to carry out the NIH cuts after 22 state lawyers -general brought a lawsuit. That block was extended this week and the Trump government was expected to appeal, Reuters reported.
In response to the possible cuts and other observed attacks on science, rise for science rallies are organized by volunteers in the American scientists in Dallas area on Friday between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The Laboratory of Supraja Varadarajan in Ut Southwestern is working on the recovery of eyesight and investigates ways to redeviate the nerves that are damaged by eye injury or illness. A year ago she came to her laboratory as a new associate professor, and although she currently has financial support, Varadarajan says that financing can become a problem.
“Within a year or two I will be absolutely dependent on federal financing as my most important, if not alone, an income source to lead the lab,” said Varadarajan, who spoke for himself and not her university. “It is really daunting and disappointing to see these changes when we really need as scientists to increase the overall budget. Here we take a complete U-turn. “
NIH subsidies have not only been taken into account scientific supplies, equipment and resources needed for research, but also the workforce -Lab technicians, postdoctoral fellows, graduated students and other institutional employees -behind it, said Victor Varner, a university teacher.
His lab is investigating how physical and mechanical forces are generated by cells, such as pulling, stretching and squice, playing a role in shaping organs during the development of the fetus.
“If you look at the budgets about these subsidies, so much of the staff is – it is jobs,” said Varner, who spoke for himself and not his university. “It pays for people who actually do science. Of course there are line items in those budgets to cover reagents, glassware and animals when the research contains animals. But most of them goes to supporting people who do the work. It is a job program in the best way. “
Potential loss of jobs, salary reductions
A loss of research-related jobs is predicted if federal financing is reduced, according to an analysis of the Associated Press with the help of the non-profit United for medical research.
Universities in the US predict that they will have to lower salaries or dismiss staff if the cutbacks continue by the budget. For example, in judicial documents that oppose federal financing, said Morehouse College in Atlanta, for example, that it should dismiss 66 research and clinical employees and lower salaries across the board by 2%, according to The Washington Post.
Hiring freezing has also been announced at research institutions such as Stanford, Cornell and MIT in recent weeks.
Cleaver, Varadarajan and Varner fear that the nih cuts of younger students, especially at university level, can scare off the pursuit of a career in science, which rejected postdoctoral research universities throughout the country, including in Texas, the state with the age of 16.
“Being a scientist is not easy and it is not for everyone,” said Jane Johnson, a professor in neuroscience to Ut Southwestern, currently financed by the Ministry of Defense on a research project aimed at prostate cancer. “It’s not just a job; You must have a passion for discovery. It is slow and there are not necessarily great rewards … I feel the way [the cuts are] When you’re done, a damper is put on a pipeline that is already a bit difficult to get young people. “Johnson spoke for herself and not her university.
Another possible impact could be on the stream of research ideas into the biomedical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. This pipeline includes the training of scientists who can lead or work in companies that create life -saving devices, drugs or therapies.
The pipeline also includes university spider -offs made to commercialize biomedical research or innovative technologies developed by the members of a university or research institution.
Many of the PhD students who graduate from the Biomedical Engineering program from UTD will continue to industrial work, said Varner. “Their entire training happens in the course of their doctorate in the context of these often federally financed subsidies. If that financing is reduced, it limits how many new scientists we can train for the next generation of leaders in those areas. “
In 2023, each dollar generated federal financing $ 2.46 in economic activity, which resulted in a total of $ 92.9 billion for the economy, according to an annual report of 2024 by United for Medical Research.
“When the congress invests in the [NIH]Lives are saved, jobs are created and families and local economies throughout the country benefit, “said the report. “Even before discoveries are made, NIH research fairs support local jobs and economic activity.”
Cutbacks can affect those whose life is dependent on discoveries
Cleaver and Johnson have been scientists for several decades and have seen their share in the funding financing. If plans for restructuring the NIH’s budget continue, the move can “herald the most dramatic, scary time I have seen,” said Johnson.
According to her and Cleaver, it will not only hinder scientific research, but also the people whose life is dependent on scientific discoveries.
‘I’m worried about that [the potential cuts] Do not consider the long -term damage [they] Perhaps really doing in the development of medical innovation and clinical tests, “said Cleaver. “The interruption of financing is to stop clinical tests. This has a direct influence on patients.
“As scientists, we hope that people suddenly start thinking of aunt Martha who has diabetes or grandpa Tom who has a heart condition,” she said. “You know, just start thinking about how this can influence them directly.”
Miriam Fauzia is a science report Fellow at the Dallas Morning News. Her fellowship is supported by the University of Texas in Dallas. The news makes all editorial decisions.
