Nearly 1 in 30 clinical trials, including cancer research, affected by NIH cuts, paper says

NIH Funding Cuts Disrupt Thousands of Clinical Trials, Putting Cancer and Infectious Disease Research at Risk.

A new study has found that nearly one in 30 clinical trials, including cancer research and infectious disease studies, have been disrupted by funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The disruptions affected more than 74,000 patients and put a significant amount of scientific evidence at risk. According to Dr. Anupam B. Jena, a study author and professor at Harvard Medical School, the interruptions were "surprisingly high" and included some of the most rigorous types of research.

The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, analyzed clinical trials that received NIH funding between February 2025 and August 15, 2025, and found that 383 trials were disrupted due to funding cuts. While more than 36% of the interrupted trials had been completed, another 35% were still recruiting patients, putting a strain on those involved in the research.

The interruptions disproportionately affected trials conducted outside the United States, with the Northeast region having the highest rate of disruptions. Cancer research and infectious disease studies were among the most affected areas, with over 115 trials and 97 trials disrupted, respectively.

Dr. Céline Gounder, a medical contributor to CBS News, warned that the interruptions could lead to "avoidable waste" and put patients at risk. She noted that clinical trials are not light switches and that cutting off funding mid-trial can have significant consequences.

The NIH has responded to the criticism, stating that it is undergoing a strategic realignment to prioritize high-impact, high-urgency science. However, critics argue that the agency's decision-making process is being politicized, with some research prioritizing ideological agendas over scientific rigor and meaningful outcomes.

The impact of funding cuts on clinical trials has been a concern for years, but this latest development highlights the importance of continued support for biomedical research. As Dr. Francis Collins, former NIH director, noted, "every dollar that NIH gave out in 2024 is estimated to have returned $2.46 just in a year." The consequences of cutting off funding mid-trial can be severe, putting patients' lives at risk and undermining the scientific progress that our society relies on.

I don’t usually comment but... I'm so worried about the impact of these funding cuts . Like, what's the point of having a country that prides itself on being a leader in medical research if we're just going to slash the funds for it? It's not like we're talking about throwing money at anything frivolous here - we're talking about potentially saving lives and finding cures for diseases . And to think that over 74,000 patients have been affected by these cuts... it's just heartbreaking .

I don't get why people can't see the importance of investing in our healthcare system . We spend billions on defense every year, but suddenly we're like "oh no, let's cut funding for something that could actually make a real difference"? It just doesn't add up, you know?

I'm like totally bummed about this . It's crazy how these funding cuts are disrupting all those clinical trials, especially when it comes to cancer and infectious disease research . It's like they're just cutting off the life support of scientists who need that money to keep their research going . I mean, I remember when my grandma was battling cancer back in the day, she needed all the help she could get from those clinical trials. To think that now they might be cut short because of funding issues is just heartbreaking .

And it's not just the patients who are at risk – it's also the progress we're making as a society . Clinical trials are like the backbone of biomedical research, and if we keep cutting funding, we'll be back to square one in no time . I know some people might say that politics is getting in the way, but can't we just focus on doing what's best for science and medicine? It's not that hard, right?

this is so worrisome! those funding cuts are gonna have a major ripple effect on cancer & infectious disease research think about all the ppl who've already signed up for trials only to see them get cut off mid-stream it's not just about the science, it's about people's lives and yeah, some ppl might say that the NIH is being strategic or whatever, but i don't wanna hear about that right now what matters is that we need more funding for these trials ASAP 2k patients are affected here... imagine how many more could be helped if researchers didn't have to worry about their funding getting cut off

OMG, this is super worrying news . I'm all about science and medicine, and it's disheartening to think that thousands of clinical trials are being disrupted due to funding cuts. Cancer research and infectious disease studies are so important, especially with the ongoing pandemic .

I mean, what if these disruptions delay treatments or cures for diseases? It's not just about the money; it's about people's lives . And what's with the prioritization of ideological agendas over scientific rigor? Can't we prioritize progress and truth here?

The NIH needs to be more transparent about its decision-making process, especially if it's being politicized. We need to support our scientists and researchers who are working tirelessly to find cures and treatments for diseases .

It's not just about the funding; it's about the values we're setting as a society. Do we want to prioritize short-term gains over long-term progress? I hope more people speak out against these cuts and demand better support for our healthcare system .

Funding cuts to the NIH are super worrying - they've disrupted so many clinical trials, it's like they're being cut in half . Cancer research and infectious disease studies are basically being put at risk . I get why the agency is trying to realign priorities, but some of these cuts feel really ideological . It's all about the science, right? I'm worried that if we don't keep supporting this stuff, we'll lose a ton of valuable research and put patients' lives at risk . It's like, every dollar NIH invests is basically getting a return of $2.46 - it's crazy economics, but also kinda reassuring? The thing is, clinical trials aren't just light switches you can flip on or off , they're complex and time-consuming processes that require funding to keep going. I hope the agency finds a way to balance priorities without sacrificing too much .

Wow , this is crazy! Funding cuts to clinical trials are so not cool . Thousands of patients are gonna get affected because researchers can't keep their trials going . And it's not just any trials, but cancer and infectious disease research too . The NIH needs to step up its game and find a way to stabilize the funding so we don't lose all that progress . It's wild that they're saying they're realigning to prioritize high-impact science, but is it just politics as usual? Interesting how those "ideological agendas" are affecting the decision-making process . Anyway, let's keep an eye on this and hope for better days ahead

funding cuts r really getting into trials rn 74k+ ppl affected & it's like they're playing russian roulette w/ cancer & infectious disease research not sure what's more disturbing - the fact that 1 in 30 trials got cut or that NIH is trying to justify it by saying they're prioritizing 'high-impact' science lol like that's a thing now what's next? cutting off funding for climate change research?

funding cuts are literally killing trials and we're still talking about them being "strategically realigned" like who benefits from these cuts? Not patients or scientists! We need to get our priorities straight and invest in research, not ideology . It's crazy that 1/30th of all clinical trials were disrupted . We can't let politics mess with lives. Scientists like Dr. Jena & Dr. Gounder are sounding the alarm and it's time we listen . Every dollar NIH gives out brings in $2.46 in returns - why are we risking that? The realignment better be about science, not some weird agenda . We need a fix ASAP!

Funding cuts to the NIH are super concerning . I mean, we're talking about thousands of clinical trials being disrupted, which means people's lives are literally put at risk . And it's not just the patients, but also all the research that could've been done. It's like, what's the point of funding these trials if they're just gonna get cut off mid-stream?

And I'm so tired of hearing about this "strategic realignment" . Sounds like a fancy way of saying "we're prioritizing our favorite research projects over others". Newsflash: science shouldn't be politics . It's about finding answers to real problems, not just pushing an agenda.

I'm all for being frugal with taxpayer dollars, but come on . We need to make sure we're investing in the research that'll actually make a difference. This funding cut is a huge step back .

man... this is a huge deal NIH funding cuts are gonna hit cancer and infectious disease research hard think about it, over 74k patients affected just cuz of funding issues... that's crazy! what's even crazier is that they're prioritizing ideological agendas over actual science can't we just focus on helping people instead of playing politics? and now we gotta deal with the consequences like avoidable waste and patients putting their lives at risk I mean, Dr. Collins said every dollar NIH gives out brings in $2.46... what's the point of that if we're just gonna cut funding mid-trial? it's all about finding that balance between science and politics... or should I say, finding a way to make science matter again

what's up with this? NIH funding cuts are like, super bad news for cancer and infectious disease research. I mean, over 74k patients were affected and it's not just about the money, it's about the science too . Can't we prioritize patient safety and progress over politics or whatever agendas ? And what's with the Northeast region having the highest rate of disruptions? Is there something specific going on in that area? Shouldn't we be supporting research everywhere ?

Also, I don't get why some trials were still recruiting patients after being disrupted. Can't they just finish the trial or find new funding? And what's with all these criticisms about the NIH's decision-making process? Are they saying it's not doing enough to support research?

oh man I am literally SHAKING with anger think about all those innocent people who have had their cancer treatment disrupted because of funding cuts 74k people affected?! That's like, a whole city or something! And it's not just the patients, it's the researchers too... they're the ones who dedicated their lives to finding cures for these diseases and now they're being told to stop mid-trial? it's just not right

And don't even get me started on the politics I mean, come on NIH is supposed to be about SCIENCE not some ideological agenda what's going on over there?! Are we really that cheap that we can't afford to fund our own research?! It's like, we're always talking about how great our country is and now we're being held back by something as simple as funding

I'm so done with this can't we just find a way to make it work? everyone needs to step up and demand that our government supports our research! because if we don't, who will?!

Oh my goodness , this is like totally insane! I'm literally shaking my head right now , thinking about all those clinical trials being disrupted by funding cuts . It's not just the patients who are at risk, but also the entire progress of medical research . We need to support our scientists and researchers in a big way ! I mean, we can't have them working without stable funding, right? The fact that some trials were even mid-recruiting is just crazy . Let's hope the NIH finds a way to realign their priorities and keep those trials going !

so like, imagine you're trying to find a cure for cancer or something but then suddenly your funding gets cut and you have to stop the trial mid-stream . it's not just gonna magically work out, you know? thousands of patients are affected and it's all cuz of these funding cuts . and get this, they're disproportionately hitting trials outside the US . like, can't we just support our fellow researchers worldwide ?

Wow! Those funding cuts are having a huge impact on clinical trials, especially cancer and infectious disease research. It's crazy how much scientific evidence is being put at risk because of it . I mean, think about all those patients who were in the middle of a trial and then just had their whole project shut down . And it's not like it's just the US where this is happening either . The Northeast region is getting hit hard too! It's like, can't we just keep the funding flowing consistently?

Funding cuts for clinical trials are like a ticking time bomb . Politicians need to stop playing politics with healthcare and get back to supporting science . It's all about putting people over ideology, you know? 74k patients affected by funding cuts? That's a whole lotta lives at risk . The Northeast region getting the worst hit is like a canary in the coal mine – something needs to change fast . We need to ensure that our healthcare system is built on solid science, not just partisan agendas . It's time for leaders to put their differences aside and prioritize human lives over ideological differences . Our society relies on scientific progress, and we can't afford to let politics get in the way of saving lives .

this is so worrying about all those clinical trials getting disrupted I mean we need to keep pushing for more funding for research into cancer and infectious diseases these interruptions can lead to huge waste of resources and even put people's lives at risk it's crazy that the NIHs realignment priorities are being politicized over science we should be focusing on what really matters – finding cures and treatments, not ideologies anyway let's just say my heart sank reading this news

I'm so worried about this ... Funding cuts to the NIH are a huge blow to cancer and infectious disease research. I mean, 74k patients affected? That's crazy! And it's not just the number of people that matters, but also the potential for life-saving discoveries to be lost forever. I think we need to take a closer look at how our government allocates funds for these types of initiatives ... Maybe there are ways to optimize funding or find alternative sources of support? Either way, it's clear that this is a huge setback for science in America

This news is literally crazy ! like, what's going on with the NIH?! They're supposed to fund cancer & infectious disease research, not cut it off mid-stream ! I remember when Trump was president and he kept talking about "draining the swamp" but honestly, this feels like they're draining the brains out of our scientists . Anyways, 74k patients affected? That's wild ! And what's with the Northeast region getting hit the hardest? Did they just decide to take a break from science or something ? Seriously though, if funding cuts keep happening, we'll be like "what were we supposed to cure again?"