Significant Funding Cuts Affect Infectious Disease Research at NAU
The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute (PMI) at Northern Arizona University (NAU), recognized for its research on infectious diseases, is confronting substantial challenges. Following a decision by the Trump administration, more than $2 billion in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants were terminated, prompting NAU to lay off seven staff members in April.
Although the university has not disclosed specific grants affected by the cuts, it is apparent that the financial blow is significant. NAU’s PMI, which benefits from NIH funding along with support from other federal entities, private corporations, and foundations, is working to adapt to these changes. A university spokesperson acknowledged the necessity of these layoffs for the institute’s financial stability.
Katrina Jackson, a researcher at PMI, is deeply involved in valley fever studies. This fungal infection is prevalent in the Southwest, and Jackson’s work is critical in developing what could be the first vaccine against it. However, her role is uncertain as she was informed that her contract would end in June. “I have never talked to somebody from Arizona who doesn’t have a valley fever story, and it’s just so insane to me that we would take this work that, like, helps everybody else and just cut it off,” Jackson expressed, highlighting the potential halt in vaccine research due to staffing shortages.
Jackson, who hails from Colorado, emphasized the importance of her work both personally and scientifically. “Studying a disease that impacts the place where I live and the people that I’m most connected to was very important to me. But also, it’s not well-studied. There’s nobody else doing this work,” she explained, sharing her frustration over the situation.
Cari Anthony, who served as an operations manager at PMI for less than a year, also faced job termination despite her 15-year tenure at NAU. She had hoped her new role would be her last on campus, given PMI’s reputed stability and international standing. “I thought I was finally taking a step into an organization that I thought had so much stability because of the work that they did and the international [reputation PMI has],” Anthony shared.
NIH’s funding database indicates that NAU received over $12.5 million from the agency last year, with PMI receiving nearly half of that amount. However, the recent cuts reduced the university’s NIH funding to $270,000, none of which is allocated to PMI.
Kim Ott, NAU’s Associate Vice President, commented on the institute’s precarious financial future, stating, “Challenges in the federal funding landscape are hindering PMI’s ability to utilize existing funds and plan for future expenditures. As a result, we have had to make the difficult decision to downsize staff in PMI as well as project commitments to align with available resources.” Ott emphasized the importance of navigating these uncertainties for PMI’s sustainability and long-term viability.
In light of the funding cuts, Jackson is now contemplating pursuing scientific research opportunities outside the United States, where she believes there is greater support for such endeavors.
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