National Institutes Of Health Funding Supports 30,000 Jobs and $8 Billion In Economic Activity In New York Alone;
Funding Cuts Will Cost Jobs, Derail Critical Research, And Endanger Public Health
SUNY Research Foundation Would Lose An Estimated $79 Million
Gillibrand Leading Bipartisan Call To Reverse Cuts
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative John Mannion visited SUNY Upstate Medical University to highlight the impact of President Trump’s recent cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding on the university and the local economy.
SUNY Upstate receives dozens of NIH grants to study cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, aging, mental health, and much more. Slashed funding would force researchers to abandon this critical work and extinguish hope for patients and families looking for cures. This funding cut could also put thousands of jobs across New York State at risk; NIH funding supports roughly 30,000 jobs in New York State alone.
“New York is home to top notch universities that attract the world’s best scientists conducting cutting-edge research,” said Senator Gillibrand. “President Trump’s attempt to radically cut funding for SUNY Upstate and other research institutions is irresponsible and short-sighted. It will imperil research that saves lives and is guaranteed to hurt our economy and the thousands of New Yorkers employed by local research institutions. These cuts are facing strong bipartisan opposition, and I am working across the aisle with my colleagues in the New York delegation, including Congressman Mannion, to call on the Trump administration to reverse them.”
“I join Senator Gillibrand in rejecting cuts to NIH funding and staff that would have devastating consequences for lifesaving medical research happening right here in Central New York,” said Representative John W. Mannion said. “At the CNY Biotech Accelerator, researchers rely on NIH support to develop breakthrough treatments and technologies that improve and save lives. Slashing these resources will make government less efficient, put innovation at risk, delay critical medical advancements, and threaten local jobs in our growing biotech sector. We must protect federal investments in science and health.”
“At SUNY, we are proud of our extraordinary researchers and the life-changing, groundbreaking medical discoveries they have dedicated their careers to advancing,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “From working to cure Alzheimer’s disease to improving cancer outcomes, from supporting 9/11 first responders to detecting brain aneurysms, their research is essential to our national security and economic leadership.”
“Upstate Medical University is fortunate to have leading researchers among its faculty finding cures and better treatments for cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, lupus and many other disorders. Biomedical research is an essential part of being an academic medical institution that adds to the vibrancy of our CNY community,” said Upstate Medical University President Mantosh Dewan, MD.
“Cutting NIH funding would be a devastating blow to the future of medical innovation and the fight against diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer. These cuts threaten to stall groundbreaking research, delay critical treatments, and stifle the progress of startups working tirelessly to bring lifesaving therapies to patients. Right here in Central New York, the CNY Biotech Accelerator is home to incredible companies working on cutting-edge medical breakthroughs. Many of them rely on NIH support, and these cuts could mean fewer innovations, fewer jobs, and fewer solutions for the patients who need them most. We cannot afford to let innovation be the casualty of short-sighted policy decisions,” said NYS Senator Chris Ryan.
“The American people deserve the best medical research in the world and thanks to our historic investments in this area, scientists at universities and academic medical centers across New York State are finding cures and treatments for conditions like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and stroke,” said Win Thurlow, Executive Director, LifeSciencesNY. “This work not only saves lives, but also strengthens the local economy. Biomedical research creates jobs and opportunities for all New Yorkers. Cutting support for this research means that cures will go undiscovered, jobs will be lost and our communities will suffer.”
“Basic and applied medical research at NYS higher education institutions and agencies is critical to improving and saving lives. Federal funding, particularly from NIH, is imperative. Any disruption in funding may cause delays in important discoveries and upheaval in the work and lives of researchers and patients. Federal funds help drive New York’s economy for all New Yorkers. Cutting NIH funding hobbles medical research resulting in both immediate and long-term consequences for all Americans,” said Assemblyman Al Stirpe.
Last week, the Trump administration announced that it would slash billions in federal funding for research institutions nationwide by imposing a cap on “indirect costs” for research associated with NIH grants. Indirect costs are expenses that are essential for scientific research, and include the construction and maintenance of research facilities, the purchase of costly scientific tools, and support staffing for major research projects. SUNY Upstate is set to lose $5 million in funding for indirect costs, and the SUNY Research Foundation would lose an estimated $79 million overall, which would cripple New York scientists’ ability to continue to conduct much of their research. New York institutions are expected to lose $850 million in total. While a federal judge has temporarily paused these cuts from going into effect, they have created chaos and confusion for the New York institutions that rely on a steady and stable flow of NIH funding.
The full text of Senator Gillibrand’s bipartisan letter with Senator Schumer and Representatives Mannion, Morelle, Garbarino, Lawler, Clarke, Espaillat, Gillen, Goldman, Kennedy, Latimer, Meng, Meeks, Nadler, Ocasio-Cortez, Suozzi, Tonko, Torres, Velázquez, Riley, and Ryan highlighting the impact these cuts would have on New York is available here.
The full text of Senator Gillibrand’s letter with 46 Senate Democrats is available here.