Dear colleagues,

I hope this message finds you well as we move toward the close of the semester. Thank you for all that you do to support our students, research, and community during this busy time.

Before diving into this week’s updates, I encourage you all to join this Thursday’s Public Health Conversation on the first 100 days of the Trump Administration. I’ll be joined by the deans of several peer schools of public health at 1PM EST. Register here.

And now a few updates that may be relevant to your work:

  • The new NIH director is making moves, the Women’s Health Initiative has had its funding restored, and we are keeping an eye on local and federal politics and policies that bear on our research grants and publications. As always, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
  • Last week, ASPPH joined leaders from the Prevention Research Center (PRC) Network in sharing a letter to House and Senate Appropriations leaders, as well as key authorization committees, urging sustained support for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) PRC Program.
  • A new STAT analysis  shows that the NIH has reduced new grant funding by at least $2.3 billion since the beginning of the year — coming on top of the freeze of billions of dollars of NIH funding to specific universities as well as abrupt terminations to hundreds research projects. If you want to see for yourself which NIH study sections and advisory councils are being scheduled, you can view Federal Register updates from the NIH here: https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/national-institutes-of-health 
  • The NIH is mandated by Congress to publish a strategic plan laying out its priorities; the last one was published in 2021 and is valid until the end of September 2025.
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation accepting proposals for funding of work terminated by federal sponsors in the areas of racial and indigenous health equity.

At BU:

  • President Gilliam signed an open letter from several hundred university presidents calling for constructive engagement and denouncing “the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education”
  • The Office of Research maintains a detailed set of guidelines for managing early grant termination; accessing the guidance document requires a BU login. The link is also posted on the Office of Research 2025 Administration Transition Information & Resources. With support from OGC and SP, Boston University now filed its first four appeals of grant terminations.
  • A Research Continuity Fund has been approved by BU. The fund, supported by foundations, will allocate critical resources to affected researchers, prioritizing continuity in doctoral education, conservation of resources threatened by sudden project termination, and support for investigators—particularly early career faculty and postdoctoral scientists—moving in to areas of research following current federal priorities. A review process being developed at OSP.
  • Guidance from the University Office of Sponsored Programs remains unchanged. Any concerns by PIs about non-renewal of federal grant funding, stop work orders, or notices of funding “pauses” should be directed to Dean McClean. PIs should not take personnel actions in response to anticipated federal funding disruptions without prior consultation with and approval from Sponsored Programs, which Dean McClean will help facilitate.
  • All labor requests, travel, and external consultants on unrestricted funds (school money) and discretionary funds continue to fall under the budget controls and a request for approval is required. Please direct any questions to the Associate Dean for Administration and Finance, Dean Lazic at iralazic@bu.edu.
  • Regarding shifting federal immigration and/or visa policies, BU continues to ensure our community has access to concrete information and expert guidance, launching BU Support Pathways. This program will support students, faculty, and staff and offer services including but not limited to:
    • No-cost confidential initial legal consultation for eligible community members to discuss current immigration or visa status
      • Information about requesting summer housing for those who choose to stay on campus this summer.
      • Education and answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
      • The BU Support Pathways website will serve as a centralized hub for information on immigration and visa matters, international travel, mental health, social services, academic support, and more. Please contact supportpath@bu.edu with any questions or concerns. 

    Thank you for continuing your important work as we head toward the end of the teaching semester.

    Michael Stein
    Dean ad interim

    View all announcements