Stony Brook University’s Vice President for Research and Innovation, Kevin Gardner, traveled to Washington, D.C., on June 4 to seek Congressional backing for the university’s health research initiatives. This visit follows policy changes that could impact significant research at the university, known for its work in cancer, neuroscience, and infectious diseases.
Gardner highlighted the importance of Stony Brook’s collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in advancing medical science and public health. He noted potential financial challenges due to possible caps on indirect cost reimbursements from NIH funding. Such cuts might result in annual losses of $24 million for the university, potentially rising to $33 million if applied across all federal agencies.
“We’ve already seen direct financial reductions from grant terminations, which has caused turmoil due to the lack of notice,” Gardner stated. “These terminations have directly impacted 35 postdocs and graduate students, who have lost their salaries. NIH funding is indispensable for sustaining our vital research and its far-reaching benefits. Cuts to this funding would undermine critical research with national impact, halt progress on diseases affecting millions of Americans, and disrupt the education and training of early-career scientists.”
Gardner’s efforts are part of a broader push by Stony Brook University’s Office for Research and Innovation to garner bipartisan support for essential research funding. During his visit, Gardner met with representatives from Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s office, Senator Chuck Schumer’s office, Rep. Andrew Garbarino’s office, Rep. Laura Gillen’s office, Rep. Nick LaLota’s office, and Rep. Tom Suozzi’s office. These meetings were organized by Stony Brook’s Office of Federal Relations to advocate for Stony Brook Research and promote federal priorities.
