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SUNY Upstate pushes back against White House NIH funding cuts

A lab SUNY Upstate's Biotech Accelerator on E. Fayette St.
Scott Willis
/
WAER News
Cars drive under the sky bridge that connects the parking garage to the Upstate Medical University Hospital in downtown Syracuse.

The White House’s latest effort to cut what it called “wasteful spending” at the National Institutes of Health spurred outcry from New York’s medical communities, which viewed the plan as an ill-conceived move with widespread consequences.

The Trump administration announced a 15% cap on “indirect costs” for grants, effectively cutting in half the funding for research equipment and lab overhead costs. The decision caused concern at institutions like SUNY Upstate Medical University, where researchers relied on those funds for critical medical advancements.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has made personal stops at three Central New York medical universities, including Upstate, to explain and hear the impact first-hand.

"...if an institution can't do their research to stop cancer, then we're just going to lose our loved ones earlier than we should."
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

"And this particular cut is so harmful because if an institution can't do their research to stop cancer, then we're just going to lose our loved ones earlier than we should. And we're just going to have to suffer through horrific medical problems," Gillibrand said.

Dave Amberg with Upstate medical reminded Gillibrand how that same funding supported Upstate scientist Frank Middleton’s critical work as he found the most sensitive way to test for COVID 19 at the height of the pandemic.

"In addition, he's developed a saliva-based diagnostic for Autism that can accurately determine if a child is going to develop autism at 1 1/2 years of age. Just recently, he's developed a saliva-based test for dengue virus, very important for our war fighters who are deployed to areas where dengue is endemic," Amberg said.

The financial impact of the cuts would be severe. Dr. Shadi Sanvik at Upstate estimated that SUNY medical schools collectively would lose $79 million.

“There's just no way that we can conduct the research that we do."
Doctor Shadi Sanvik

"There's just no way that we can conduct the research that we do. We estimate that just for the next five months, the stoppage will cost about $21 million. That's a tremendous amount of money, especially for a public university," Sanvik said.

Since the cuts were announced, 22 states have counter sued, New York among them. On Friday, the Massachusetts judge hearing the suit will allow Trump’s legal team a chance to defend what New York’s medical community calls indefensible.

Dr. David Amberg, VP for research at Upstate Medical University, explains the benefits of government-funded research. He's joined by, from left to right, Assemblymember Al Stirpe, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. John Mannion, and Assemblymember Bill Magnarelli.
Scott Willis
/
WAER News
Dr. David Amberg, VP for research at Upstate Medical University, explains the benefits of government-funded research. He's joined by, from left to right, Assemblymember Al Stirpe, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. John Mannion, and Assemblymember Bill Magnarelli.

Moore arrives in Syracuse after working in the Phoenix, Arizona, market, where her extensive experience includes tenures as a Morning Edition reporter for KJZZ-FM, the local NPR affiliate; producing, anchoring and reporting for KTAR News Radio; and serving as a political and senior reporter for KNXV-TV.