What Happens If The Loses Funding?
National Cancer Institute
By Louis Johnson April 3, 2025
Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality in the United States, necessitating continuous research to enhance patient outcomes, develop innovative treatments, and ultimately discover a cure. The National Cancer Institute( NCI) serves as the principal federal agency funding cancer research
, supporting clinical trials and fostering advancements in cancer preventionn, diagnosis, and therapy.
Yet, it is one of many institutes and centers within the NIH impacted by recent federal funding cuts. The NCI supports both internal and external research
, the latter funded by federal grants. A key change to NIH funding involves a cap on " indirect costs " for those research grants, now set at 15 %. These costs cover institutional overhead. This change impacts how much funding research institutions receive, potentially reducing their resourcess. While the overall NIH budget may not have been strictly " cut " in the traditional sense, this policy shift redirects significant funds, creating financial strain for research facilities.
At the same time, in fiscal year( FY) 2025, the NCI is operating under a continuing resolution that maintains funding at the FY 2024 level of $ 7.22 billion 1. This stagnation in funding, when adjusted for inflation, effectively reduces the real value of research dollars, leading to significant consequences for cancer research and patient care.
Key Consequences Of Stagnant NCI Funding Stagnant or reduced funding for cancer research institutions hinders the progress of therapeutic and scientific advancements, resulting in a reduced approval rate for crucial research initiatives, especially those focused on rare cancer presentations. This financial limitation disproportionately impacts emerging researchers, restricting new investigative approaches and potentially obstructing collaborative efforts between academic and industrial stakeholders. As a result, the development and accessibility of innovative treatment options are compromised, worsening existing disparities in healthcare delivery and ultimately affecting patient outcomes.