The University of California system, which receives the highest amount of federal research funding among U.S. higher education institutions, has expressed concerns about the Trump administration's sudden pause on research grant reviews.
The administration unexpectedly canceled multiple National Institutes of Health (NIH) study sessions and advisory council meetings where experts evaluate grant proposals. This has raised alarms across UC's ten campuses, which received $2.6 billion in NIH funding for 2023-24, representing 62% of the university's federal awards.
The pause affects communications, travel, and public activities across major federal agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Food and Drug Administration. While temporary pauses during presidential transitions are standard practice, the abrupt nature of this directive has disrupted ongoing work.
Some UC researchers have already experienced direct impacts. One researcher at an online NIH study session reported being suddenly locked out mid-meeting without explanation. Others received "cease and desist" notices, creating uncertainty about which research activities should stop. Project leaders are questioning whether to halt work and how to manage graduate student payments.
"We are all worried about our own funding and stability, but this is very concerning for long-term scientific progress," said Christine Liu, a postdoctoral researcher at UC San Francisco. She noted that scheduling delays could impact the development of new drugs and therapies.
While the pause is scheduled through February 1st, UC leaders warn that a longer suspension could severely impact their research enterprise, which encompasses over 10,000 grants studying infectious diseases, brain injuries, vaccinations, Alzheimer's, and other critical medical fields.
John MacMillan, UC Santa Cruz vice chancellor of research, indicated that even if lifted on schedule, the pause could delay funding decisions by several months due to rescheduling challenges. "Particularly for our younger scientists, pausing their work and the long-term effects of that can be pretty profound," he stated.
UC officials emphasize that university research traditionally receives bipartisan support. The university maintains close contact with California's congressional delegation to communicate the pause's impact on the research community.
The situation continues to evolve as UC leadership gathers information and assesses potential long-term implications for their extensive research programs and the thousands of scientists, students, and staff who depend on federal funding.