Trump’s National Institutes of Health research funding cuts will impact Arkansas

The Trump administration’s announced cuts to research funding could cost two of Arkansas’ major health care centers millions of dollars, but state elected officials say they support the president’s actions to search for savings in the federal government.

On Feb. 7, the Trump administration announced it would limit indirect cost reimbursement rates for current and future grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for recipient institutions to 15%, a move calculated to save as much as $4 billion annually. Twenty-two Democratic state attorneys general filed suit to block the Trump administration move on Monday, and a temporary restraining order to stop the cuts has been issued in a Massachusetts case. There are two other pending cases in federal court.

Arkansas is not one of the states involved in the litigation to prevent the research funding cuts.

“I am monitoring this issue and appreciate President Trump’s commitment to making the federal government more efficient,” said Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. “I am confident that the administration will determine what federal spending is crucial and what is extraneous.”

When asked if Griffin plans to join existing or pursue new litigation, he suggested a lawsuit was not necessary at this time.

“I am always mindful of how federal actions are affecting Arkansas,” he said. “With the previous administration, I was forced to advocate and communicate through litigation because the Biden administration was not interested in engaging in meaningful dialogue. With the current administration, I have a direct line to the White House and can raise directly with administration officials any concerns Arkansans may have about federal actions.”

Gov. Sarah Sanders’ press spokesman Sam Dubke told Talk Business & Politics that the governor also supports Trump’s efforts at savings, even though it could lead to potential cuts in research funding in Arkansas.

“The United States is over $36 trillion in debt, and the governor is working with the Trump administration to support necessary efforts to reduce out-of-control deficit spending while ensuring critical programs remain a priority,” said Dubke.

UAMS receives between $70 million and $75 million a year from the NIH. UAMS spokesperson Leslie Taylor said overall funding from outside of Arkansas, such as NIH funding, totals about $173 million for the state’s medical school and research campus.

“In contrast to reports suggesting that the amount of funding for indirect research support at academic medical centers is as much as 60% of total NIH awards, it is only 37% at UAMS,” said Taylor. “And this 37% supports building maintenance, utilities, and grants and contracting support that is necessary for the crucial research done at UAMS on behalf of all Arkansans. If these caps on NIH indirect cost funding are allowed to stand, this will amount to a more than $10 million a year loss for UAMS. This is not a loss that we could easily absorb especially given the fact that our patient care enterprise already helps subsidize our research and education missions.”

Taylor said UAMS would be forced to limit the amount of research it performs. She noted that current NIH research funding is studying treatments and cures for ovarian cancer, substance use disorders, obesity, musculoskeletal disease, and diabetes.

“It will affect work to address maternal and infant health, autism and developmental disabilities, as well as wellness education and outreach to children and families across the state,” said Taylor. “We have been in touch with our congressional delegation and Gov. Sanders to make them aware of the major impact these cuts would have on UAMS.”

Arkansas Children’s is the recipient of approximately $20.3 million in NIH funding, roughly 40% of the children’s health system research arm. It also supports 210 pediatric researchers conducting work in the areas of lymphatic malformations, cystic fibrosis, food allergy, respiratory infections, childhood obesity, child development, and pediatric translational research.

An email sent to employees from ACH President and CEO Marcy Doderer repeated some of the concerns UAMS voiced. Doderer said cutting-edge therapies and breakthroughs produced by the research extends the life expectancies of children living with chronic illnesses.

“The change, effective today (Feb. 7), deals a direct blow to our ability to conduct critical research and poses a significant setback for the health and well-being of Arkansas’ and the nation’s children,” she said. “Research saves children’s lives. At best, the loss of this funding will slow all research progress. More likely, reduced funding for infrastructure and administrative necessities like laboratories, patient clinical research units, imaging equipment, data software and storage, as well as the people who support these research operations, means research simply will not happen.

“The cuts are concerning. I assure you that I am actively seeking discussions with the members of the legislature, the governor’s office and peer institutions nationwide. We will ardently advocate against these cuts. Just last week, I visited with our congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., and I was encouraged by our conversations; they know the intricacies of pediatric health care and the costs associated with progress.”