In a recent statement, Sarah Branstrator, the Academic Strategic and Research Collaborative Management Director of the T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University, expressed that the situation at the institution is “more severe than at any other school within Harvard University” following the cessation of federal funding. She emphasized the need for immediate action in response to this challenging situation.
The school has historically received over 70% of its annual research funding from the federal government. Initially planning to secure over $200 million in funding for the current fiscal year, the school faced a significant setback when the Trump administration canceled hundreds of research grants and contracts, leading to the almost complete loss of federal government funding for the institution.
Branstrator warned that if the decision to cut off federal funding is not reversed, approximately half of the school’s federally funded research projects are expected to come to a halt in the next fiscal year.
Currently, the school is leveraging the work experience of its alumni in corporate research and development labs by engaging in dialogues with corporations. Both the school and corporate insiders have conveyed that negotiations are still in the early informal stages, and no new funding agreement has been reached yet.
Historically, the school has received 14% to 18% of its annual research budget from non-governmental funding sources.
Branstrator emphasized that even if federal funding is restored, the school will continue to actively seek external sources of funding to reduce its dependence on federal funds. She also mentioned plans to secure scientists’ independence through agreements that ensure scientists can publish research outcomes independently without interference from corporations.
The school aims to attract corporate sponsorship for approximately $100,000 per year for doctoral students and postdoctoral positions while aiming to deepen existing collaborations. Currently, companies like Biogen and Pfizer have provided funding for some of the school’s labs or projects.
In recent weeks, the school has raised over $3.5 million from wealthy donors and received an additional $350,000 in small donations from alumni.
Simultaneously, Harvard Medical School is in discussions with biotechnology and pharmaceutical company AbbVie to expand a project initiated in 2020 aimed at facilitating collaborations between company research labs and medical school faculty. The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University is also actively exploring new research agreements with multiple companies, with authorities stating that such discussions have become a “new top priority.”
Over the past few months, Harvard University has been in a tense standoff with the Trump administration. The administration has demanded that Harvard address anti-Semitism and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, threatening to cut or freeze over $2 billion in funding and attempting to revoke its tax-exempt status and eligibility to enroll international students.
Citing academic freedom, Harvard has rejected the administration’s demands and has filed two lawsuits in response.
President Trump posted on social media on Friday, June 27th, indicating that negotiations on a potential agreement are currently underway. Harvard University has not issued any comments on this development.
(Adapted from a report by The Wall Street Journal)