Trump administration's $9 billion funding review could threaten life-saving research at Harvard and Boston hospitals

The Trump administration’s sweeping federal review of nearly $9 billion in multi-year research funding tied to Harvard University has raised significant concerns across both the University and the broader medical community. This investigation, which has caused considerable uncertainty, primarily targets the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding supporting Harvard’s medical research and its affiliated hospitals in Boston. While the review stems from a federal task force investigating antisemitic incidents on Harvard's campus, experts warn the potential cuts could disrupt vital medical research and health advancements.

The review’s impact, however, may be felt most acutely by Boston’s hospitals, which collectively receive over $1.56 billion from the NIH. These hospitals, including Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), and Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH), are heavily reliant on federal research funding, with several in the top 10 for NIH funding in fiscal year 2024.

Potential financial disruption for Harvard's affiliated hospitals
While Harvard itself received $686 million in NIH funding in fiscal year 2024, its affiliated hospitals secured far more. MGH received $655 million, BWH secured $388 million, and BCH took in $230 million, among others. The total NIH funding for the five Harvard-affiliated hospitals reached over $1.56 billion in 2024—more than double what the University itself received. As reported by The Harvard Crimson, experts are particularly concerned about the potential fallout from this review on these hospitals, which could face funding cuts in the billions.

The combined multi-year funding commitments of the five hospitals and Harvard University exceed $6.2 billion and $2.7 billion, respectively, according to The Harvard Crimson’s analysis. These amounts contribute to the nearly $9 billion in funding under review, though the exact scope of the cuts remains unclear.
Concerns over halted research
Researchers have expressed grave concerns over the potential cuts, with some warning that the suspension of these grants could halt crucial, life-saving research. As quoted by The Harvard Crimson, Jonathan C. Kagan, director of basic research at Boston Children’s Hospital, criticised the university’s handling of the situation. "Before any budget cuts have even been made, academic leaders have stalled hiring, stalled expansions, stalled research conferences and graduate student admissions," Kagan stated, pointing to the growing uncertainty surrounding future funding.

Harvard President Alan M. Garber confirmed the potential impact of the cuts in a recent email to Harvard affiliates. "The loss of that funding would halt life-saving research," Garber wrote, further emphasising the broader implications of these funding disruptions for both the university and its affiliated hospitals.

A ripple effect on medical advancements
The NIH grants support a wide range of activities, from molecular biology wet labs to late-stage clinical trials, which are crucial for medical breakthroughs. With no clear indication of which projects will be affected, researchers are left in limbo, unsure whether their work will be paused or cancelled entirely.

As reported by The Harvard Crimson, the administration of the affected hospitals is preparing for possible disruptions. Mass General Brigham, for instance, has formed a task force to identify strategies to respond to the funding cancellations. Despite the uncertainty, hospital leaders are focused on mitigating the potential consequences of the federal review, which could significantly impact the healthcare system’s ability to recruit talented clinicians and scientists.

With the NIH funding review ongoing, experts warn that a failure to protect this research funding could have severe consequences for future medical advancements and innovation.