Update on NIH Funding
Dear faculty and staff,
On Friday, Feb. 7, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced proposed changes to the federal government's handling of indirect research costs (F&A). The proposal includes capping indirect cost recovery at 15% for both new and existing NIH grants to universities, a significant departure from our current negotiated rate of 60% that would have profound implications for Northwestern’s research enterprise and for federally funded research across the country.
We recognize the urgency of this situation and are working internally and with peer institutions, advocacy organizations such as the Association of American Universities, the Association of American Medical Colleges, government leaders and other federal policy experts to understand and respond to this new circumstance. It is also likely these proposed changes from NIH will be tied up in litigation by various organizations.
As we anticipate potential serious financial impacts from this directive as well as other possible federal changes, we are evaluating various measures to protect the University, both now and in the future. We will share more in the coming days once those measures become solidified.
In the meantime, faculty who have specific questions about ongoing NIH grants should contact SponsoredResearch@northwestern.edu. You can find updates about this and other federal policy changes on Northwestern’s federal policy tracking page.
Thank you for your continued dedication to advancing research and innovation at Northwestern. We appreciate your partnership as we navigate this evolving federal landscape together.