Former NIH Leaders Warn of Ongoing Turmoil at the Agency

BOSTON — Former leaders of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have expressed deep concerns over the ongoing instability within the agency, particularly following the recent elimination of the MOSAIC program. This initiative, which was designed to provide seed funding for junior scientists to establish their own laboratories, was discontinued after the federal government deprioritized funding for research initiatives perceived as promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Jeremy Berg, a former director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, highlighted this issue by donning a tie adorned with a word cloud from the applications of researchers affected by these cuts, featuring critical terms such as “CELL,” “DISEASE,” and “EPIGENETICS.”

The implications of this chaos extend beyond individual researchers; they signal a broader trend that may hinder scientific progress and innovation. As funding priorities shift, the potential for a brain drain in the scientific community looms, raising questions about the future of research in vital areas. The ongoing uncertainty at the NIH could disrupt not only the careers of emerging scientists but also the overall landscape of biomedical research, which relies heavily on diverse perspectives and inclusive practices.