The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced a significant policy change in its funding of foreign scientists, sparking concerns about the future of international collaborations in biomedical research. While the agency claims the move is aimed at addressing national security concerns and transparency issues, internal emails suggest that it may be part of a broader “America First” agenda to reduce US participation in global science.
According to an internal email, the NIH will no longer renew or issue new funding for foreign subawards, which allow US researchers to partner with collaborators from other countries. The agency plans to establish a new system for awarding grants to international partners over the next six months.
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya stated that the freeze on foreign subawards is intended to address these concerns. However, some are questioning the true motivations behind the move, which they believe may be driven by a desire to reduce US involvement in global scientific collaborations.
The implications of this policy change are far-reaching and could have significant consequences for the biomedical research community, particularly those working on international clinical trials and collaborative projects.
Source: https://www.statnews.com/2025/05/02/nih-halts-foreign-grant-subawards-email-reveals-national-security-not-only-concern