NWABR put together an email template in collaboration with other orgs like ours across the country (below) that you can use to email your U.S. Senators and House Representative regarding the NIH's proposed indirect cost caps. The template contains language for both Washington and Oregon constituents, and it encourages your Congressional delegation to rally around this cause and stand united against these cuts. Please note the bolded areas where you will need to fill in your information. Both WA's and OR's biomedical sectors will be gravely impacted by these cuts, so we've leaned into economic stats here. Please feel free to add any stories you might have that humanize the letter.
We realize that many of you may not be able to speak about this from your organization because you receive NIH grants, but we encourage you to send this to your friends and family who support your work.
If you do email your Senators/Rep or forward to your loved ones, please email me here melissa@nwabr.org so we can track basic metrics. We wish that NWABR had a program/app that would auto populate this template to your reps based on your zip code, but in light of budgetary constraints, we can do this the old fashioned way! Remember, numbers matter when launch grassroots campaigns, and legislative assistants will at minimum be tracking the number of emails/phone calls/letters they receive on these issues.
Find your U.S. Senators here and U.S. House representative here.
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Dear [Senator/Representative insert Senator’s/Representative’s name]:
I strongly oppose the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) recent directive imposing a 15% cap on indirect costs for research grants. This policy threatens the foundation of innovative biomedical research, placing our state’s esteemed research institutions and collaborative life science ecosystems at a significant disadvantage. The cap not only affects academic research but also hinders the progress of discoveries that will lead to live saving cures and treatments for cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, heart disease, stroke, pediatric illnesses, and more.
NIH grants are pivotal in driving America's scientific innovation, providing researchers with essential facilities, infrastructure, and administrative support to advance life-saving discoveries. By reducing indirect cost reimbursements, the NIH shifts a substantial financial burden onto research institutions, compelling them to divert funds from critical programs, reduce essential personnel, or abandon high-impact research initiatives.
This policy not only destabilizes the research community but also diminishes the U.S.'s global competitiveness in life sciences innovation, especially at a time when nations like China are making significant investments in a broad range of technologies. Now is not the time to weaken the United States' ability to compete.
[For WA constituents]
Washington’s life science and biomedical sectors contribute significantly to our state economy, relying on vital research partnerships between major academic institutions, hospital systems, and the biopharmaceutical industry. In FY2023[1] alone, NIH awarded $1.29 billion in grants and contracts that directly supported 11,979 jobs and $2.96 billion in economic activity in Washington state. Indirectly, these grants and contracts generated and supported over 2,500 biopharmaceutical businesses with over 42,000 jobs, underscoring the profound economic ripple effect of this funding.
[For OR constituents]
Oregon's life science and biomedical sectors contribute significantly to our state economy, relying on vital research partnerships between major academic institutions, hospital systems, and the biohealth industry. In FY2023[2] alone, NIH awarded $417 million in grants and contracts that directly supported 5,013 jobs and $992 million in economic activity in Oregon. Indirectly, these grants and contracts generated and supported over 1,600 biopharmaceutical business with over 16,000 jobs, underscoring the profound economic ripple effect of this funding.
Nationally, the NIH reports a return of $2.50 in economic growth for every dollar invested in research. This multiplier effect highlights the importance of maintaining robust indirect cost support, which funds essential infrastructure and administrative services critical to research operations. Capping these reimbursements jeopardizes not only scientific progress but also the broader economic impact NIH funding delivers to our state and the nation.
We call upon you to actively oppose this policy and advocate for its reversal. It is imperative that you engage in meaningful dialogue with research institutions, industry leaders, and policymakers to ensure sustainable funding mechanisms that genuinely support the advancement of technological innovation and science. I hope you will stand united with our life science sector for the integrity of our research ecosystem and ensuring that federal funding policies strengthen—not undermine—our nation's leadership in biomedical innovation.
We urge our congressional delegation to champion this cause and protect the future of biomedical research in our region and across the country.
Sincerely,
[Your Name
Your Physical Address]
________________________________________
[1] https://www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-pdf/?state-id=550
[2] https://www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-pdf/?state-id=540
