Vanderbilt institutes research hiring freeze, braces for Trump NIH cuts: What to know
Chief Communications Officer John Howser declined to give specifics on the amount of money Vanderbilt expects to lose annually as President Donald Trump continues shrinking federal spending — including research aid from the National Institutes of Health. But other school officials reportedly said they expect a $250 million reduction in funds.
"In response to recent administrative orders impacting financial resources for medical research, it is necessary for VUMC to strategically reduce research operating costs," Howser said in a statement to The Tennessean Friday.
"Hiring for most research positions will be paused and other cost-saving measures will be implemented."
The medical center hasn't suspended all hiring, stating that it "is continuing to hire frontline staff for its health system to accommodate ongoing growth in patient care and in preparation of the October opening of the 180-bed Jim Ayers Tower."
The Nashville-based health care system announced last fall that it would hire thousands of doctors, nurses, technicians and others to staff the 15-floor tower. The more than $500 million project, off 21st Avenue across from Peabody College's Wyatt lawn, is the largest facility expansion in the medical center's history.
Vanderbilt has not yet discussed what it will do to reduce costs or which research programs might be at risk. Here's what you should know as Tennessee's other top medical research centers, including Meharry Medical College, also face drastic cuts.
The National Institutes of Health is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world and is overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It provides grants to Tennessee, including: Vanderbilt's hospital and university as well as Meharry in Nashville; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis; and the University of Tennessee System.
Leaders at the universities and research hospitals teamed in February to send a letter on Feb. 11 to the Tennessee legislative delegation expressing "grave concern" and asking for help stopping a 15% cap the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and NIH adopted Feb. 7. The cap cuts off funding for "indirect costs" for research, including equipment, laboratory space and utilities.
These top Tennessee research institutions receive a combined $770 million annually in NIH funding. That means they face losing more than $115 million.
The NIH had invested most of its nearly $48 billion budget in medical research to enhance life and reduce illness and disability. It helped fund key breakthroughs and new treatments.
In Tennessee and across the nation, this research fueled new ways to treat cancer, dementia, sickle cell, diabetes and many other diseases and disorders impacting residents.
The proposed NIH cuts could surpass $30 million annually and would be "crushing" to North Nashville's Meharry, Dr. James Hildreth, its CEO and president, told The Tennessean.
"If the indirect costs are capped at 15%, I can tell you that many institutions will have no choice but to shrink their research enterprise," Hildreth said.
He also is concerned about Trump's targeting programs across the nation that address diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI.
Meharry is 149-years-old, one of the nation's oldest and largest historically Black academic health science centers and conducts pioneering research, including addressing racial disparities to promote health equity.
Beth Warren covers health care and can be reached at bwarren@tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt freezes some Nashville jobs as Trump NIH cuts loom
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