- 16-state coalition files Massachusetts federal lawsuit against NIH/HHS
- 900+ active grants terminated since March 2024
- 87% of canceled funds targeted DEI and LGBTQ+ health research
- Plaintiffs warn of 'irreparable harm' to medical innovation
The ongoing legal battle over federal research funding reached new intensity Friday as state prosecutors from New York to California united against controversial NIH policy changes. At stake: critical studies on HIV prevention, transgender healthcare access, and racial disparities in maternal mortality rates.
Court documents reveal Massachusetts researchers lost $2.3M in active Alzheimer's trials examining LGBTQ+ caregiver challenges. California universities report terminated grants studying gender-affirming care outcomes in adolescents. New York's Department of Health estimates 14 ongoing cancer trials now face indefinite delays.
Industry analysts identify three systemic impacts: First, 68% of affected institutions lack contingency funding. Second, private investors increasingly avoid politically sensitive research areas. Third, international competitors like Germany's Max Planck Institute actively recruit displaced U.S. scientists.
The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council reports 22% membership decline in DEI-focused startups since January. When federal priorities shift this abruptly,said Boston-based researcher Dr. Amara Patel, it creates chilling effects across entire research ecosystems. Our Parkinson's study lost NIH funding precisely when we identified promising biomarkers.
Legal experts note this marks the administration's third attempt to redirect NIH resources. Previous 2023 efforts to defund fetal tissue research failed after federal courts ruled the moves arbitrary and capricious.This new strategy targets specific grant language rather than entire programs.
The lawsuit highlights internal NIH communications directing reviewers to flag proposals containing gender identity,health equity,or systemic biasterminology. Plaintiffs argue this violates federal peer-review protocols established under the 1976 Health Research Extension Act.
