At a recent hearing to discuss the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, raised concerns with NIH Director Jayanta Bhattacharya about proposed funding cuts to Alzheimer’s research and a cap on indirect costs.
Senator Collins voiced her opposition to the Administration’s proposal to cut more than $19 billion from the NIH budget, which she described as “disturbing” due to its potential impact on Alzheimer’s research. “We also risk falling behind China and other countries that are increasing their investment in biomedical research,” she stated. Collins emphasized that there are currently around 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, a number that could nearly double by 2060 without significant breakthroughs.
Director Bhattacharya expressed his commitment to advancing scientific progress on Alzheimer’s, acknowledging both personal and professional awareness of the disease’s impact. He highlighted advancements like a blood test for early detection but stressed that more progress is needed. Bhattacharya indicated his willingness to collaborate with Congress on addressing health needs through research.
Regarding the NIH’s proposed 15 percent cap on indirect costs for grant recipients, Senator Collins criticized it as harmful and poorly conceived. She noted its negative effects on scientists and clinical trials and mentioned that it contradicts federal law established since 2018. During her remarks, Collins referenced discussions with Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier about alternative models for handling these costs.
Director Bhattacharya confirmed he had spoken with Dr. Droegemeier about potential reforms but refrained from commenting further due to ongoing litigation. He expressed openness to working with Congress on possible solutions: “I’d love to work with Congress… I think there’s lots of great possibilities for reform.”
