NIH Research Resumes Amid Confusion Over Trump Administration Directives
Acting NIH head assures staff that clinical trials will proceed, despite "pause" in communications.
Amid uncertainty surrounding the future of research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), clinical trials will continue as planned, the agency’s acting director assured staff in an email on Monday.
The clarification came after NIH staff faced confusion and disruption last week when the Trump administration ordered a “pause” in all federal health agency communications and suspended government travel. The directive led to uncertainty about ongoing research and left NIH staff questioning whether they could continue their work, particularly in treating patients.
Dr. Matthew Memoli, the acting NIH director and a seasoned infectious disease expert, addressed the situation in an email to staff, a copy of which was obtained by NBC News. In his message, Memoli aimed to resolve the “confusion” surrounding the scope of the pause, reassuring scientists that clinical trials at the NIH and NIH-funded institutions could proceed.
“Clinical trials at NIH or NIH-funded institutions are ongoing,” Memoli wrote. “Research participants can continue to participate in clinical trials at the NIH Clinical Center and at NIH-funded facilities.”
He also confirmed that investigators could continue to purchase supplies and fund travel for research participants visiting the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The NIH oversees over a thousand clinical trials annually.
One staff scientist, who wished to remain anonymous, called the clarification "good news" that helped restore a sense of normalcy for clinical operations.
However, funding for new research projects remains suspended. It remains unclear whether the NIH will approve funding for new research grants through its study sections. Without grants, researchers cannot launch new studies on critical conditions such as asthma, pediatric cancer, COVID-19, and Ebola. The NIH typically awards over 60,000 grants each year, supporting around 300,000 researchers.
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford University professor who has publicly criticized the NIH's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been appointed by President Trump to lead the agency. A Senate hearing for Bhattacharya’s confirmation has not yet been scheduled.
In the meantime, Dr. Memoli indicated that further guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services is expected later this week, with the overall communications “pause” slated to last until Saturday.