At a recent hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Senator Susan Collins questioned NIH Director Jayanta Bhattacharya regarding proposed funding cuts to Alzheimer’s research and a cap on indirect costs.
Senator Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, expressed her opposition to a 15 percent cap on indirect costs, which are usually negotiated between NIH and grant recipients. In February, she announced her stance against this proposal. By April, Collins had chaired a full committee hearing focusing on biomedical research’s importance. During this session, Dr. Hermann Haller from Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory testified about how the NIH cap could impact research in Maine and across the nation.
In addressing Alzheimer’s research funding, Senator Collins remarked: “I am well aware that you have devoted your life to medical research, to health economics, and that you care very deeply about NIH.” She criticized the Administration’s proposed $19 billion reduction in the agency’s budget, highlighting its potential impact on ongoing research into diseases like Alzheimer’s. Collins emphasized: “There are an estimated 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s today,” warning that without breakthroughs, this number could rise significantly by 2060.
Director Bhattacharya responded by reaffirming his commitment to advancing Alzheimer’s research: “I know all too well from my own research work and from friends and family members the devastating toll of this disease.” He acknowledged progress made so far but stressed the need for further advancements in managing and curing Alzheimer’s.
Regarding the cap on indirect costs imposed by NIH without prior notice or input from scientists, Senator Collins voiced concerns over its effects: “It is leading to scientists leaving the United States for opportunities in other countries.” She mentioned meeting with Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier, who proposed alternative models for handling these costs.
Director Bhattacharya noted his awareness of Dr. Droegemeier’s proposals but refrained from discussing specifics due to ongoing litigation. However, he expressed willingness to collaborate with Congress: “I’d love to work with Congress… I think there’s lots of great possibilities for reform.”
