More Voices, Greater Impact
Late last week, news reports emerged about a preliminary 10-year interagency agreement between the Department of Defense (DOD) and the NIH. Later that day, the agreement was released. It “facilitates the transfer of funds” from NIH to DOD to “support the advanced development of medical countermeasures against pandemic influenza, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, and emerging infectious diseases.” NIH leadership has stated that the agreement will not jeopardize the NIH research agenda.
The agreement raises many questions. Is it best for NIH appropriations to exclusively fund collaboration between the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and DOD, rather than joint funding? Should Congress have the opportunity to weigh in by allocating resources through the annual appropriations process? And where does another part of HHS, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) fit, given its congressionally established role in developing medical countermeasures against biological and other threats?
Interagency coordination is essential to using taxpayer dollars efficiently. But an agreement that creates a one-way path for NIAID funding to flow to DOD raises questions about whether this is truly a collaboration. We are seeking additional information and will provide updates.
Russ’s Corner
I have mentioned before that the research community needs to be on the lookout as individual agencies may de facto adopt provisions of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed rule without formal action – or seek to adopt those provisions in guidance or regulation – even as the proposed rule itself is at least temporarily blocked by Congress.
Let’s take the Department of Education as a timely example of the latter. While the proposal does not directly reference OMB’s proposed rule, it does echo several of its most consequential provisions, including expanded authority to terminate grants after they are well underway.
The Department of Education proposal would allow an award to be terminated “for convenience of the Secretary” without specifying circumstances or standards governing that authority. It would give the Department of Education greater discretion over funding decisions and introduce new requirements for institutions participating in federally funded projects. And it would allow preference for applicants with lower indirect cost rates.
These proposed changes would affect a wide range of programs supporting education research, the development of future researchers, institutional research capacity, student success, teacher preparation, and postsecondary innovation. The preference for lower indirect costs is a dangerous precedent.
If you see a Request for Information (RFI) or a proposed rule change from another federal agency that references or echoes OMB’s proposal, consider responding. Submitting comments on the Department of Education’s proposed rule, for example, is one way to make clear that transparent and merit-based grantmaking matters across the federal government, as it does across academia, industry, and philanthropy. Research!America is working on submitting comments. The more responses federal agencies see from those who understand the importance of reliable grantmaking, the stronger the case for stopping these proposals.
We cannot afford to fight these proposals by sector. When we work together across the research community and beyond, we are stronger, and our voices carry further.
Russ
On the Hill: Next week, two Senate committees will be considering the nomination of Chris Klomp to be the deputy secretary of HHS. It is likely that questions about the impacts of the proposed OMB rule will be raised during these hearings. Watch the HELP Committee hearing here, and the Finance Committee hearing here.
2026 National Health Research Forum: We are just a couple weeks away from hosting our 31st National Health Research Forum! Join us on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C. for early-career researcher programming, as well as important conversations around health research, policy, and the future of science and medical progress. The Forum will feature remarks by Richard Woychik, Ph.D., senior advisor to the NIH Director for the Make America Healthy Again Strategy. Additional special guests and speakers will be announced soon! The Forum is free, but space is limited, so secure your spot today.
Lasker Awards: Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Lasker Awards: Emmanuel Mignot (Stanford University School of Medicine) and Masashi Yanagisawa (University of Tsukuba), who will receive the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award; Kunihiro Hattori,Takehisa Kitazawa, and Tomoyuki Igawa (Chugai Pharmaceutical), who will receive the Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award; and Michael J. Fox, who will receive the Lasker~Bloomberg Public Service Award. Research!America is especially pleased to see Fox, a past recipient of our Advocacy Awards along with his Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, among this year’s group of distinguished Lasker Award winners. This recognition is well-deserved!
Sepsis Awareness Month Discussion: Why is research advocacy important? We periodically host alliance discussions, open to members and non-members alike, focusing on health threats and the people whose lives depend on research progress. On Tuesday, Sept. 29, at noon ET, we turn to sepsis – which affects more than 1.7 million Americans each year, kills an estimated 350,000, and contributes to 1 in 3 hospital deaths – and the role patients and caregivers can play in research. Joining us are Don Smith, a sepsis survivor, and Megan Jones, director of community education and support at the Sepsis Alliance. Register today.
Join Research!America: If you haven’t already, join our multi-sector alliance! The membership process is straightforward, the benefits are compelling, and your participation informs and intensifies our community’s influence on and off Capitol Hill. Email Associate Director of Membership and Development Operations Donald Cook for more information.