Sen. Collins opposes cuts to NIH research funding

Senator Susan Collins is working to reverse recent cuts to National Institutes of Health research grants. She is forming a coalition and plans to lobby Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about the funding reductions. The Trump administration announced a 15% cap on indirect research costs, which could reduce NIH funding by about $4 billion. This decision is currently being challenged in court by 22 states, including Maine. Collins emphasizes that indirect costs are essential for research operations. She has met with scientists who express concerns that the cuts could hinder biomedical research and discourage young scientists from pursuing careers in the field.