Thousands affected by cuts to NIH-funded clinical trials

The National Institutes of Health grant terminations this year affected hundreds of clinical trials and thousands of participants, a cross-sectional study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found. From Feb. 28 to Aug. 15, 2025, 383 trials (3.5%) out of 11,008 lost funding, affecting 74,000 patients. The greatest number of terminated trials were for infectious diseases, followed by prevention trials and behavioral interventions. Some terminated grants have resumed, although they are part of ongoing litigation. The authors say the terminations have caused “inefficient use of time and resources; the loss of invaluable scientific knowledge; wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars; and unacceptable and unethical risks to patients.” Further, participants can lose care and trust if they do not receive the structure and follow-up promised to them. (MedPage Today article, 11/17/25)