Researcher with auditory impairment secures funding for hearing restoration research, but grant revoked by Trump administration due to DEI matter
In the realm of biomedical research, federal funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives is currently undergoing significant changes. While two federal judges have temporarily protected DEI programs from cutbacks, the situation remains uncertain due to recent political and funding shifts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) [4].
One researcher who has felt the brunt of these changes is Dr. Uri Manor, a hearing loss researcher whose grant was terminated by the Trump administration in May 20XX. Dr. Manor's research, which has helped children hear for the first time, was supported by a major five-year NIH grant [1]. However, the termination of his grant was part of the Trump administration's efforts to combat DEI ideology, affecting not only Dr. Manor's work but also numerous other research projects, including those focused on HIV [2].
Dr. Manor, who was born with genetic hearing loss and learned to speak at the Institute of Logopedics in Wichita, Kansas (now called Heartspring), qualified for his R01 grant due to his congenital severe-to-profound hearing loss. This grant, a major five-year award specifically designed to support early-stage researchers from diverse backgrounds, was terminated [1].
The notice from the NIH stated that research programs based primarily on artificial and non-scientific categories, including amorphous equity objectives, are antithetical to scientific inquiry [3]. However, Dr. Manor emphasizes the importance of recognizing that research like his is supported by taxpayers and expresses a sense of responsibility and privilege in using these funds for his research.
The current status of federal funding for DEI initiatives in biomedical research is indeed in a state of flux. While active funding opportunities targeting health equity exist, they are competitive and specific in scope, potentially benefiting underrepresented fields [2]. Institutional compliance matters significantly influence federal grant eligibility and continuation, as evidenced by Brown University's recent resolution of a federal funding freeze triggered by federal reviews of compliance with nondiscrimination laws [1].
In terms of hearing loss research within biomedical science, while there is no direct information on DEI-specific funding targeted at hearing loss, the NIH, as a primary funder of biomedical research broadly, including hearing loss, suggests indirect impacts may exist. Systemic interruptions to federally funded DEI and biomedical research initiatives could slow progress in hearing loss research, especially if projects incorporate diversity or equity goals in their scope.
A federal judge ruled in June that it was illegal for the Trump administration to cancel several hundred research grants in areas including racial health disparities and transgender health, including Dr. Uri Manor's grant [5]. This ruling provides a glimmer of hope for researchers like Dr. Manor, whose work is crucial in the advancement of hearing loss research. Dr. Charles Liberman, a senior scientist and former director of the Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, anticipates breakthroughs in the next five to 10 years in slowing age-related hearing loss [1].
In summary, the current state of federal funding for DEI in biomedical research is uncertain, with active funding opportunities targeting health equity but being competitive and specific in scope. Institutional compliance matters significantly influence federal grant eligibility and continuation. No direct information on DEI-specific funding for hearing loss research was found, but the NIH funding structures suggest indirect impacts may exist. This situation calls for a close watch on NIH policies and maintained advocacy for DEI in all biomedical research domains, including hearing loss.
References:
- The Scientist
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Science Magazine
- The New York Times
- The Hill
The termination of Dr. Uri Manor's research grant, focused on medical conditions like hearing loss, underscores the potential implications of changes in federal funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in health and wellness. The ongoing uncertainty in federal funding for DEI programs could slow progress in various medical research fields, such as hearing loss, if projects incorporate diversity or equity goals.
As the NIH remains a primary funder of biomedical research, including medical conditions like hearing loss, indirect impacts of systemic interruptions to federally funded DEI and biomedical research initiatives could be significant. This situation underscores the importance of maintaining advocacy for DEI in all biomedical research domains, including health and wellness, to ensure continued progress in medical conditions research.
