https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2025/02/reforming-the-nih.html Reforming the NIH by Tyler Cowen February 16, 2025 at 1:47 pm It seems the Trump proposal to simply cut overhead to fifteen percent will not stand up in the courts, at least not without Congressional approval? Nonetheless a few of you have asked me what I think of the idea. My preferred reforms for the NIH include the following: 1. Cap pre-specified overhead at 25 percent, down from a range running up to 60 percent. 2. Encourage more coverage of overhead in the proposals themselves, where the researchers are accountable for how the overhead funds are spent. Severely limit how much the “overhead” cross-subsidizes other university functions, as is currently the case. 3. Fund a greater number of proposals, with the money coming from overhead reductions, as outlined in #1 and #2. 4. Set up a new, fully independent biomedical research arm of the federal government, based on DARPA-like principles. In fact this was seriously proposed a few years ago, with widespread (but insufficient) support. I would note a few additional points, which have been covered in earlier MR posts over the years: 5. The NIH could not get its act together during Covid to make fast grants with sufficient rapidity during a time of crisis. They performed much worse than did say the NSF. 6. A while back the NIH set up a program to make riskier grants. The program did not in fact make riskier grants. 7. The NIH killed the idea of an independent DARPA-like biomedical research agency, fearing it would limit the size and influence of the NIH itself. 8. The submission forms, their length, and the associated processes are absurd. Whether or not the costs there are high in an absolute sense, it is a sign the current NIH is far too obsessed with process, as happens to just about every mature bureaucracy. At this point it is obvious that the NIH cannot reform itself. It is also obvious that a slower, technocratic approach just gives the interest groups — in this case it is “the states” most of all — time to mobilize to protect the current NIH. There are universities in many Congressional districts and a fair amount of money at stake. I do not per se favor a move to fifteen percent overhead, as I do understand the associated costs on scientific research. Nonetheless I take very seriously the possibility that a radical “thoughtless” cut now stands some chance of getting us to where we ought to be in the longer run, especially since subsequent administrations will get further cracks at this problem. They can up overhead to 25 percent, and set up the new DARPA-H. I just don’t see why that is impossible, and it may not even be unlikely. So what exactly is your discount rate and risk aversion here? I feel the defenses of the NIH I am reading do not take the entire broader analysis seriously enough. They do not take sufficiently seriously that the writers themselves have failed to adequately reform the NIH. And over time, without serious reform, the bureaucratic stultification will only get worse.
Latest casualties from the Trump-Musk patently illegal - literal destruction of all Basic medical & science research in this country: VA Systems Center of Innovation (what is this? Oh it's just a research arm of the VA - that inveted the pacemaker and nictotine patches) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-spurs-hundreds-of-cuts-in-va-health-research CARD - The primary home of Alzheimer's & Parkinson's reseach, going to be wrecked https://www.msn.com/en-ca/politics/...kinson-s-research-facility-report/ar-AA1zrAwT Note - this center was established in 22 named in honor of former GOP senator Roy Blunt. Nobody voted for this ****. This is a disaster.
The United States of America has officially recorded its first measles death since 2015. Texas health officials have confirmed that a school aged child has passed away from measles amid a massive outbreak that has impacted nine counties in West Texas. The child was not vaccinated. Currently, there are at least 124 measles cases in West Texas confirmed. There are also at least 9 measles cases in Eastern New Mexico. The current outbreak in Texas is the worst the state has seen in nearly thirty years. The child who passed away today was hospitalized for several days after contracting the deadly illness. According to data released by the Texas health department, the majority of cases involve children under the age of 18.
This is horrible to post, but I may as well post it. We are essentially shutting down research operations in my group, which is focused on treatments for pediatric brain cancer. I’m a well funded investigator, and there’s no choice. Science can’t function without the stability of NIH Who voted for this? What is the justification for stopping basic research on pediatric brain cancer?
"There have been many funding cuts to cancer research, and it's playing out many ways. Here are a few stories from people I know. I spend time in cancer circles. I am an recliner advocate nowadays. Brooke is 24 years old, has a baby and a toddler, and has stage 4 B-cell lymphoma..." "...that has been resistant to standard-of-care treatments, so she was to start a clinical trial called VIPER at the NIH. Her team told her it's no longer an option due to funding issues. VIPER has had significant success. Now it looks like Brooke will die within a year. Brooke is a real person..." What is wrong with these ****ing freaks like Elon? Stop all basic science research and experimental cancer treatment and murder people? Because you can post memes? Not only is this immoral and horrific, it is a crime I hope DOGE people who did this pay for their crimes some day
They won't pay for this. They'll just roll out some other kid who survived cancer, make him a Secret Service agent, all while cutting cancer research.
Jon Rauch @jonrauch.bsky.social · 43m A friend drove two hours today for her breast cancer chemotherapy only to learn it was canceled due to NIH cuts. Clinical trial ended midstream. No treatment, no restart, no plan, no information. Her bro-in-law's chemo was also canceled. @Os Trigonum what is the defense for this malevolent homicidal cruelty - did Tyler Cowen send them one of his not very well thought out blog posts?
Family member texted me and said funding from NIH for a study for a rare disorder was cancelled. It was the only study for this rare and horrible disease. I pray to god none of you have a child with that disease. but hey, i am sure that child is happy to not contribute to all this waste and fraud.
All Trump cares about is making money, not the health of the people. It's just like him cutting all kinds of environmental regs and worker safety and health protections so the oil billionaires can make more profit. It's just like him pushing to mine more coal while simultaneously imposing deep cuts to agencies tasked with ensuring miner health and safety. Is this the American dream or the billionaire's dream? Working jobs that can kill you with toxins to make a living, to benefit the guys on top raking in most of the profits for themselves? Gee, who thinks Trump made their life better because now they and their kids can mine coal, even if it cuts their life short?
Adam Gordon @dnadam.bsky.social · 6h I am a Northwestern faculty impacted just how you describe. My research - including an active trial of cancer / cardiac disease prevention, part of a large national network - has been frozen, despite a notice of award for our renewal. Year 6 of a 6 year study. We are completely in the dark. Absolutely indefensible Who voted for this? What is the point of this? **** Trump, Elon, JD, DOGE, Russia, Russel Vought, RFK jr, Heritage, every single Republican in Congress, anyone who voted Republican since 2016, @Commodore and @Os Trigonum All you jackasses own this utter senseless evil
