Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, is taking a stand against cutbacks to National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants. She is leading the charge to reverse funding caps that could reduce NIH-funded research by about $4 billion. Collins is planning to personally lobby the Trump administration and has formed a coalition, including key figures like Condoleezza Rice, to fight the cutbacks.
The NIH has imposed a 15% cap on indirect research costs, which Collins argues will negatively impact vital biomedical research, interfere with clinical trials, and potentially lead to layoffs. Maine is one of 22 states that sued the Trump administration over these cuts. Collins is working to organize a coalition of top research institutions, universities, labs, and senators to combat the reduction in funding.
Members of Maine’s scientific community, including The Jackson Lab and the University of New England, are speaking out against the cutbacks, echoing concerns raised by the broader biomedical industry. University of New England President James Herbert stressed the detrimental impact that these cuts could have on research institutions and universities nationwide.
Collins also opposes Medicaid cuts proposed in the U.S. House version of the budget bill, highlighting the potential negative effects on vulnerable individuals and hospitals. She has voted against these cuts and is working to protect Medicaid funding during the budget reconciliation process.
Collins’ efforts to advocate for continued funding for NIH research and oppose Medicaid cuts demonstrate her commitment to supporting biomedical research and ensuring access to healthcare for all.
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