Senator Collins Questions NIH Director on Cuts to Alzheimer’s Research, Cap on Indirect Costs
Alzheimer’s Research Q&A: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download
Cap on Indirect Costs Q&A: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download
Washington, D.C. – At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned NIH Director Jayanta Bhattacharya on proposed funding cuts to Alzheimer’s research and a 15 percent cap on indirect costs.
In February, Senator Collins announced her opposition to the proposed cap on indirect costs, which are usually negotiated between NIH and the grant recipient. In April, Senator Collins chaired the first full Committee hearing with a focus on the importance of biomedical research. At Senator Collins’ invitation, Dr. Hermann Haller, President of the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory (MDI Lab), provided testimony on how the proposed NIH cap would affect biomedical research occurring in Maine and at institutions across the country.
Q&A on Alzheimer’s Research:
Senator Collins:
I am well aware that you have devoted your life to medical research, to health economics, and that you care very deeply about NIH. That is why the Administration's reduction of more than $19 billion to the agency's budget, that is approximately 40 percent, is so disturbing. It would undo years of Congressional investment in NIH, and it would delay or stop effective treatments and cures from being developed for diseases like Alzheimer's, cancer, Type 1 Diabetes, I could go on and on.
We also risk falling behind China and other countries that are increasing their investment in biomedical research. Let me give a specific example. There are an estimated 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer's today. Barring any major breakthrough to prevent, slow down, or cure this devastating disease, this number could almost double to claim the lives of more than 13 million Americans by the year 2060.
That's why this Committee has been so dedicated to increasing the funding for biomedical research, and for Alzheimer's in particular, to more than $3 billion last year alone. And it's produced results. We've seen the first two drugs that have been shown, when administered early enough, to slow cognitive decline. We have also seen the development of a breakthrough blood test, which will help lead to earlier diagnosis.
Yet the Administration's budget proposes a decrease of 40 percent for the National Institute on Aging, which funds most Alzheimer's research.
As a Senator representing the oldest state in the nation, this is of particular concern to me. And like Senator Capito, I too lost my father to this devastating disease, as well as my grandfather, two uncles, and just last year, a brother-in-law. So, I know personally what it means to so many American families.
Why is the Administration proposing to cut the funding for the National Institutes of Aging when we are making progress in treating Alzheimer's and other dementia?
Director Bhattacharya:
First, let me just say that I am fully committed to making progress, scientific progress, on Alzheimer's. I know all too well from my own research work and from friends and family members the devastating toll of this disease. And we have made tremendous progress. The NIH supports a very wide range of hypotheses on Alzheimer's, and it's resulted in some advances, like, for instance, the blood test for early detection.
We still don't have, I think, in my professional opinion, a sufficient way to manage the disease, to prevent the disease, and to cure the disease. We need more advances.
And so, I'm absolutely committed to making sure the NIH plays a tremendous role in that. The President wrote a letter to Michael Kratsios, his science advisor, committing the United States to be the leading nation in the world in biomedicine. And so, that's the intention of this Administration.
This is my first time through this budget fight, and so I'm still learning, but I'll tell you, from what I understand is that the budget is a collaborative effort between Congress and the Administration. I look forward to working with you all to advance the needs, the real health needs, of not just the folks here in the room who represent Alzheimer's patients, but also the health needs of all Americans. We have tremendous health needs that we have to address. It's only excellent research that's going to solve those problems.
Q&A on NIH Cap on Indirect Costs:
Senator Collins:
Prior to your confirmation, NIH abruptly and without any notice or input from the scientific community, announced a 15 percent arbitrary cap on research-related costs, also called indirect costs, for institutions that receive grants from the NIH. This proposed cap is so poorly conceived, and I have seen firsthand how harmful it is.
It is leading to scientists leaving the United States for opportunities in other countries, it's causing clinical trials to be halted, and promising medical research to be abandoned.
It's also against federal law. Since 2018, we in Congress have specifically included language to prevent NIH from arbitrarily imposing such a cap.
During your confirmation hearing, you committed to working with us on this issue. So, I was alarmed and surprised that the Administration's budget request contains the same harmful 15 percent cap.
Recently, I met with Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier, who was President Trump's science advisor during the first term. He has come up with two possible models which are far fairer, make way more sense, and increase accountability. Have you had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Droegemeier and look at the models that he has come up with after extensive consultation?
Director Bhattacharya said he has spoken with Dr. Droegemeier and is aware of the proposal. He noted that he could not address the caps specifically because of ongoing litigation, but added: “I'd love to work with Congress… I think there's lots of great possibilities for reform.”
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