The National Institutes of Health’s unpredictable funding is hampering U.S. researchers, according to a recent episode of STAT’s biotech podcast, The Readout LOUD. The episode examines how the agency allocated money in its latest funding cycle and the consequences for biomedical science.
The discussion features STAT reporter Anil Oza and Heather Pierce of the Association of American Medical Colleges. They describe a climate of uncertainty that makes it difficult for labs to plan long-term projects, hire staff, or purchase equipment. The problem extends beyond academia, contributing to a gloomy mood among biotech investors.
The episode also touches on other developments, including the shuttering of a CRISPR CAR-T biotech and the Nobel Prize in medicine, but the central theme is the NIH’s budget situation and its ripple effects across the research community.