Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 15, 2025
NIH Grant Cuts Disrupt Minority Research Program at University of Maryland
TLDR
- The UMD-REACH program's NIH grant reinstatement provides minority students a competitive edge in communication sciences research and career development.
- NIH grant cuts and reinstatements disrupted UMD-REACH's systematic research and training processes, causing delays and reduced productivity in communication sciences.
- UMD-REACH's reinstated funding helps improve communication and learning for diverse communities, making tomorrow better through inclusive health research.
- UMD-REACH's NIH grant was cut and restored, highlighting how funding uncertainty impacts innovative health research and minority student training.
Impact - Why it Matters
This funding instability directly impacts the pipeline of diverse researchers entering communication sciences and health fields, potentially slowing medical advancements that benefit underserved communities. When research programs focused on diversity and inclusion face funding uncertainties, it undermines efforts to address health disparities and develop more inclusive healthcare solutions. The disruption affects not only current research but also the training of future scientists who could bring diverse perspectives to critical health challenges like communication disorders, which affect millions of Americans.
Summary
The University of Maryland's UMD-REACH program, which focuses on Research, Equity, and Access in Communication and Hearing, faced significant disruption when its National Institutes of Health grant was abruptly cut in May along with 78 other Maryland projects. This program, designed to encourage minority undergraduate students to research communication sciences and disorders, was one of 47 fortunate projects that saw their funding reinstated in July after the Trump administration's initial termination. However, program co-director Matthew Goupell emphasized that the delay came at a substantial cost, forcing researchers and administrators to divert valuable time from scientific progress to deal with funding uncertainty.
According to Goupell, the NIH informed UMD-REACH that its grant was terminated because NIH policy does not prioritize research programs as part of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. The funding disruption has significantly slowed down both research activities and student training within the program, creating uncertainty that has limited productivity and scientific advancement. This situation reflects a broader pattern affecting dozens of Maryland organizations that experienced similar abrupt funding cuts and reinstatements, disrupting innovation in critical health fields.
The READ FULL ARTICLE HERE link provides additional context about how these funding uncertainties are impacting health research innovation across multiple institutions. The program's mission to help people learn and communicate better through advanced research in communication sciences and disorders has been compromised by these administrative challenges, highlighting the fragile nature of research funding for diversity-focused initiatives in the health sciences.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by citybiz. Read the original source here, NIH Grant Cuts Disrupt Minority Research Program at University of Maryland
