NIH ends funding for research on climate, health link

The National Institutes of Health will no longer be funding work on the health effects of climate change, according to internal records reviewed by ProPublica (Source: “NIH Ends Future Funding to Study the Health Effects of Climate Change,” ProPublica, March 24).
 
The guidance, which was distributed to several staffers last week, comes on the back of multiple new directives to cut off NIH funding to grants that are focused on subjects that are viewed as conflicting with the Trump administration’s priorities, such as gender identity, LGBTQ+ issues, vaccine hesitancy and diversity, equity and inclusion.
 
While it’s unclear whether the climate guidance will impact active grants and lead to funding terminations, the directive appears to halt opportunities for future funding of studies or academic programs focused on the health effects of climate change.
 
As extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, heat waves, wildfires and floods, continue to intensify and become more frequent, researchers are increasingly examining the impact climate change has on public health. The NIH, which provides billions of dollars annually for biomedical research across the country, has funded hundreds of grants and programs in recent years devoted to researching this issue.