Trump executive orders put California medical research in limbo
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More than $6 billion could be at risk in California if President Trump cuts federal funding for health and science research.
Why it matters: Trump's executive orders effectively halting some public health and science work leaves the future of local research related to diseases including cancer, AIDS and Alzheimer's up in the air, particularly in La Jolla.
The latest: One order that spurred the funding freeze and research disruption was blocked by federal judges, but the administration is still reviewing spending.
Driving the news: National Science Foundation (NSF) grant reviews and National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for new projects are at least temporarily paused as both agencies seek clarity on Trump's recent moves.
- Some review time is normal during presidential transitions, and it's possible that both agencies' work will eventually continue more or less as normal.
Yes, but: It's also possible that some projects that might have been funded during previous administrations will be rejected, especially given Trump's criticisms of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, green energy and more.
By the numbers: In fiscal year 2024, the NSF and NIH allocated $159,000 in funding per 1,000 residents to California universities, research institutions and other health and science organizations.
- In total, California received nearly $6.2 billion in federal health and science research funding — more than any other state.
- The largest portion of NIH money, $2.7 billion, went to the University of California.
- UC San Diego received about $561 million of that — the third-highest amount of any institution, behind UC San Francisco and Stanford.
Zoom in: The NIH is UC San Diego's largest funding source for research, with most of the money flowing to the medical school.
- One of the biggest NIH-funded projects is the university's FIRST Program, which works to diversify the biomedical workforce.
- UCSD did not comment on the executive order's potential impacts on the school's research funding.
Zoom out: Several other local institutions, mostly in La Jolla, were among the top 20 for NIH funding across California.
- Scripps Research Institute — $163 million
- The Salk Institute for Biological Studies — $66 million
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute — $54 million
- San Diego State University — $43 million