Dear Colleagues,
We are proud of all of the research that UT Health Science Center faculty and staff contribute to science in the collaborative pursuit of improving the health of Tennesseans.
As you likely already know, the U.S. research community, our institutions, and the general public were informed of the NIH notice posted late Friday ( NOT-OD-25-068: Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates) setting a standard indirect rate of 15% across all NIH grants for indirect costs in lieu of a separately negotiated rate for indirect costs in every grant.
We have been working across the weekend internally, with UT System, with our government relations group, and also with other institutions and academic organizations nationally to firstly understand the potential impact of this announcement and then to chart out an appropriate response to NIH. The situation is fluid and under consideration nationally.
It is important to note that at this time, the notice only applies to NIH supported projects and only to indirect costs. The notice as written does not apply to direct costs. Accordingly, at this point, researchers should continue work on their projects consistent with the previous executive orders and the terms of the award and continue to apply for posted funding opportunities.
Please know that we share your concerns about the potential impact of this sudden, unanticipated, and substantial change in federal funding and its wide and potentially deleterious ramifications for our investigators, their important work to improve human health, our institution’s capacity to meet our mission, as well as more broadly the integrity of the US research enterprise that is quite frankly the envy of the world.
As with prior federal directives, we will respect and comply with the law as we work our way through this emergent situation.
Also, as stated in our communication last week, we are committed to continued dialogue and to regular communication.
If you have questions or want to discuss directly, please call or set up a time to meet with Dr. Jessica Snowden or Dr. Wesley Byerly.
Regards,
Peter F. Buckley, MD
Chancellor
Jessica N. Snowden, MD, MS, MHPTT
Vice Chancellor for Research
