The National Institutes of Health (NIH) director, Jay Bhattacharya, has ordered employees to conduct an individualized review of all current and planned research activities. The review aims to ensure that only projects aligned with the agency’s priorities are funded.
Bhattacharya sent a memo to NIH personnel on Friday, instructing them to examine active grants, funding opportunity announcements, contracts, and other transactions. The review is effective immediately.
The order comes amid concerns about the NIH not distributing all of its allocated grant money by September 30th, which would return the funds to the US Treasury. This has raised fears that research projects may be cut or delayed due to funding constraints.
Bhattacharya outlined “select agency priorities” in his memo, including artificial intelligence, furthering our understanding of autism, and ensuring evidence-based healthcare for children and teenagers identifying as transgender. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing research that aims to address potential harms caused by certain therapies and procedures.
Critics argue that switching gears at this stage reinforces confusion, diminishes trust, and increases concerns within the scientific community. The American Association for the Advancement of Science chief government relations officer, Joanne Padrón Carney, expressed concern about the timing and implications for biomedical research funding.
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Source: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2025/08/19/nih-director-orders-review-all-current-planned-research