NIH Must Reverse and Retract Cap of Indirect Cost Rates

ALS United Greater New York stands with the ALS community nationwide in opposing devastating cuts to research grants at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). We strongly urge the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to immediately reverse and retract “Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates” that caps the coverage of indirect costs to 15 percent. This harmful policy would threaten vital ALS research and slow progress toward desperately needed treatments.

Medical research is not just spending—it’s an investment with immense returns. NIH-funded studies lead to therapies that enhance quality of life, reduce healthcare costs, and offer hope to those battling diseases like ALS. Cutting indirect cost coverage to 15% would cripple research institutions, forcing reductions in staff, resources, and the ability to sustain long-term studies. Research institutions typically allocate 40-60% of total grant funding toward indirect costs, which cover the essential expenses of operating state-of-the-art laboratories, retaining expert personnel, and ensuring compliance with rigorous safety and ethical standards.

For decades, the NIH has recognized the necessity of funding these critical infrastructure costs and negotiating fair rates based on real expenditures. If this policy change moves forward, institutions will be left with a funding shortfall that cannot be absorbed—jeopardizing the future of ALS research and studies into Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and many other urgent medical conditions.

Scientific progress takes time, requiring recruitment of participants, procurement of materials, and adherence to meticulous research protocols. Without stable, sufficient funding, promising studies could be abandoned before they reach the breakthrough moments that patients and families are counting on.

NIH investments drive innovation and transform lives. By ensuring robust research funding, we safeguard the future of groundbreaking treatments and cures for ALS and other devastating diseases.

ALS United Greater New York, alongside 40 other organizations, sent a letter to the NIH urging them to reverse this decision, and now advocates must tell Congress to oppose the cap on indirect research grant costs and demand an immediate reversal of this damaging policy. Contact your representative today and urge them to stand against the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) attempt to limit funding to just 15%. Together, we can protect the future of groundbreaking discoveries and accelerate progress toward a cure.