Trump seeks to further tighten grip on biomedical research

President Donald Trump is attempting to assert greater control over biomedical research funding, as part of his campaign against what he deems as "woke" programs and institutions, according to recent reports. In the wake of his return to power in early 2025, Trump has significantly slashed federal research funding, with a particular focus on biomedicine, according to US media outlets such as Politico, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

White House officials have hinted at the prospect of establishing an external commission that could review and possibly veto grants issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the US agency responsible for medical research. White House budget director Russell Vought, a staunch supporter of Trump, has been vocal in his criticism, claiming that NIH funds research with "woke" agendas, according to The Post.

In response to these allegations, Russ Paulsen, the president of non-profit alliance Research!America, expressed his concern that introducing more bureaucratic oversight would impede medical advancements. Paulsen emphasized that patients and their families should not face further delays in receiving vital treatments or breakthroughs. Critics argue that the administration's actions threaten academic and research freedom.

Leading institutions like Harvard University, which are at the forefront of biomedical research, are under scrutiny due to the administration's approach. Recently, American researchers filed a lawsuit against the NIH, alleging that the agency is withholding grants to suppress dissenting viewpoints on various topics, including diversity, gender identity, and climate change.

Ann Cohen, a psychiatry professor at the University of Pittsburgh, whose research funding was reportedly cut, criticized the decision, stating that her study on Alzheimer's disease aimed to identify ways to mitigate risk factors in historically underserved communities.