For decades, scientists have viewed the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States as an institution primarily focused on publishing research papers. However, according to Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the director of the NIH, during the second term of former President Donald Trump, the NIH shifted its funding focus towards “testable, evidence-based hypotheses rather than ideological narratives,” leading to extensive reforms.
Dr. Bhattacharya, who holds both a Ph.D. in economics and a medical degree from Stanford University, outlined the reforms implemented by the NIH during his first year as director in an interview with Jan Jekielek, a senior editor at The Epoch Times. He discussed his vision for the NIH’s future in the coming years.
He highlighted the significant role the NIH has played in advancing medicine over the past decades. However, he noted that the institution had become “more conservative and unwilling to take academic risks” in the 21st century.
While the NIH had been willing to engage in risky activities related to specific agendas like “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI),” Dr. Bhattacharya believed the institution should not be involved in such endeavors.
Under his leadership, President Trump’s administration, and the oversight of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, the NIH is now focused on addressing the country’s chronic health issues, improving life expectancy trends, and fulfilling its mission of conducting research to enhance the health and lifespan of people in the United States and globally.
Dr. Bhattacharya emphasized that the NIH, one of the 13 institutes managed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the U.S., is the world’s largest biomedical research funding agency, providing funding for 85% of global biomedical research.
By offering around $50 billion in funding to scientific research through grants to hundreds of thousands of researchers at academic institutions and hospitals, the NIH plays a crucial role in advancing scientific knowledge.
Dr. Bhattacharya clarified that the NIH does not directly dictate public health decisions or policies. He expressed his intention to “eliminate decades-long politicization of science.”
He criticized the trend of incorporating political agendas rather than scientific agendas at the NIH in the past 15 to 20 years. Dr. Bhattacharya cited “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)” initiatives as a prime example, noting that many research projects in this area lacked genuine scientific basis.
One specific project he mentioned focused on whether “structural racism is the root cause of disparities in hypertension treatment effectiveness among African Americans.” Dr. Bhattacharya pointed out the challenge of verifying such an untestable hypothesis.
Overall, Dr. Bhattacharya stressed the need for NIH-funded research to focus on projects that can genuinely improve public health rather than embodying ideological pursuits that do not align with the NIH’s core mission.
Since President Trump’s return to office, the NIH has realigned its funding sources, including allocating funds for early career scientists to support their research endeavors.
Dr. Bhattacharya advocated for fundamental changes in how the NIH funds educational institutions, aiming to collaborate with Congress to achieve this goal.
In a recent court ruling on January 5th, the Trump administration was barred from reducing the indirect costs paid to NIH-funded recipients, including administrative and facility maintenance expenses. The ruling involved lawsuits brought by attorneys general from Massachusetts and 21 other states, as well as hospitals and associations representing these institutions.
The NIH issued a policy statement in February 2025, titled “Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates,” limiting the amount of funding allocated for indirect costs associated with research projects. These costs cover expenses related to equipment, facilities, and personnel that cannot be directly linked to a specific research project.
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