A UCSF researcher received a perfect NIH score for a $1.5 million grant but has waited over eight months due to a federal slowdown. California lawmakers advanced Senate Bill 895, a $12 billion research bond proposed by Sen. Scott Wiener, to help close funding gaps and safeguard research from politically motivated cuts. The bill passed the State Senate 29-9 and would require approval by the State Assembly, sign-off from the governor, and voter approval. SB 895 would establish a state-led foundation for science and health research to fund grants and research facilities across California. Federal NIH funding has slowed after February 2025 cuts, and the state backstop is intended to keep projects, staff, and facilities operating while federal dollars are delayed or frozen.
"Dr. Anita Hargrave's study cleared one of the toughest funding hurdles in medical research: It received a perfect score from the National Institutes of Health, the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world. At any other time, a perfect score would typically guarantee funding. But Hargrave has been waiting over eight months, caught in a federal slowdown."
"Today, state lawmakers advanced Senate Bill 895, a $12 billion research bond proposed by Sen. Scott Wiener that UCSF researchers say would help close funding gaps and safeguard them from what they describe as politically motivated cuts. The bill passed the State Senate in a 29-9 vote, sending it to the State Assembly; all nine "no" votes were cast by Republicans."
"SB 895, co-sponsored by the University of California, would require passage in the assembly, sign-off from the governor and, ultimately, voter approval. It would create a state-led foundation for science and health research to fund grants and research facilities throughout California. The bill would not fully replace federal research funding in California, but supporters say it would create a state backstop to keep some projects, staff and facilities afloat as federal dollars are delayed or frozen."
"President Donald Trump's gutting of NIH funding in February 2025 has led to a national slowdown in new grants: The agency is on track to award far fewer grants than in previous years. Dr. Vanessa Jacoby, UCSF's associate vice chancellor for clinical research, said that would make all the difference for someone like Hargrave."
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