Hopkins and UMB face NIH grant cuts

The Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore are facing cuts in their research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This is due to changes in federal funding policies made by the previous administration under President Donald Trump. Recently released data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows that Johns Hopkins received over $6.42 million through 12 grants from NIH. However, about $1.58 million of this funding is expected to be canceled. Research projects affected include studies on violence among diverse populations and vaccinations for monkeypox and influenza. A spokesperson from Johns Hopkins expressed concern about the impact these cuts will have on patients and researchers. The university, known for its substantial NIH funding, is also involved in legal action against the funding cuts, which a federal judge has currently blocked. Meanwhile, the University of Maryland, Baltimore lost a grant worth $75,405 aimed at addressing structural racism in U.S. populations. It has received termination notices for 11 other grants, totaling over $5.87 million this year, with further losses expected. The reasons for these cancellations often relate to diversity and equity-focused research. A spokesperson for UMB stated that these cancellations undermine efforts to improve public health and scientific advancement. The university plans to appeal the canceled grants through standard administrative channels to seek reinstatement. Collaboration with federal agencies has been important for both institutions, and both are committed to improving health outcomes despite these funding challenges. The University of Maryland, College Park was not affected by these recent funding changes and was not included in the latest report.