Update on Research Funding

Dear members of our research community,

We wish to update you on work that is moving forward, continuing the path we embarked on when we first received notices of federally terminated research awards. 

At the institutional level, the University continues to pursue all available channels to restore federal funding. In parallel, the Office of the Provost, joined with teams from Research and Finance, and working with the deans in each of our affected schools, developed processes to receive feedback from our principal investigators on the impact of the award terminations on research activity at the University. Specifically, we asked each principal investigator to develop a Research Action Plan (RAP) for review at the school level and to inform a school-based approach. 

This process was designed to help us collectively understand the impact of award terminations on our scientific progress, our research officers and staff, and our research subjects, data, and equipment.  We asked that schools minimize non-personnel expenditures on affected research, and to maintain a modest level of research continuity to preserve years of accumulated work and preserve optionality with respect to next steps. Centrally, we committed to fund those individuals whose salaries and stipends were previously funded with federal support on now-terminated awards, using institutional funds, while we undertake the review. 

Our message to you today is one of thanks, for your professionalism and dedication while we undertake this process. This work is ongoing, and in our estimation about 75% complete. We have met with affected schools and institutes, as a group and individually, and will continue this process as we finalize plans for the affected areas, including decisions regarding term appointments. What has emerged, even as we are in the midst of this review, is the intense commitment across the institution to navigate this moment with care, on an individual and institutional level. We share this deep commitment and recognize that it will be critical to maintain communication as we move forward.

We appreciate your patience as we manage this terrain together. As always, please refer to the Federal Research Updates 2025 website for the most recent updates on federal research funding. 

Best,

Angela Olinto, Provost
Anne Sullivan, EVP for Finance
Jeannette Wing, EVP for Research