“Basic Experimental Studies Involving Humans” no longer classified as clinical trials at NIH in an effort to reduce administrative burden

After a brief government shutdown, FY26 funding bill is signed into law
NIH gets $415M raise, NCI gets $128M more, CDMRP funding largely restored

On Feb. 3, the House of Representatives passed the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, by a vote of 217 to 214. Later that day, President Donald Trump signed the bill into law, officially ending the brief partial government shutdown that began on Jan. 31.

NIH’s Bhattacharya acknowledges absence of causal link between vaccines and autism

Pressed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya acknowledged that he is not aware of any study pointing to a causal link between vaccines and autism.

February 06, 2026

Vol.52 No.05

By Sara Willa Ernst

Podcast The Directors

The Directors: Gary Schwartz and Ramon Parsons on the best of times (for science), the worst of times (for funding)
Cancer centers fund small grants to boost morale amid low paylines

As NCI paylines drop to 4%, cancer centers are tapping into their institutional funds to provide “bridge funding,” typically in $50,000 to $100,000 increments, to enable investigators to keep their labs open until better times return—next year God willing.

January 30, 2026

Vol.52 No.04

By Paul Goldberg and Claire Marie Porter

Cancer Policy

NIH suspends new embryonic stem cell line submissions

NIH is suspending the addition of new human embryonic stem cell lines to the Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry, all while looking for alternatives. The agency also issued a request for information on “emerging biotechnologies to reduce or potentially replace remaining research reliance on human embryonic stem cells.”

Itismeran autogene + Keytruda demonstrated improvement in recurrence-free survival in neoadjuvant melanoma

Moderna and Merck announced median five-year follow-up data from the phase IIb KEYNOTE-942/mRNA-4157-P201 study, evaluating intismeran autogene (mRNA-4157 or V940), an investigational mRNA-based individualized neoantigen therapy, in combination with Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in patients with high-risk melanoma (stage 3/4) following complete resection.

January 30, 2026

Vol.52 No.04

Capitol Hill

Spending bill passed by the House gives NIH $415M raise, NCI gets $128M
Legislation caps proportion of NIH grants to receive multiyear funding; indirect costs remain untouched

The U.S. House of Representatives Jan. 22 passed a three-bill minibus package that is expected to be the grand finale of the drama of the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process. The package, which funds the HHS as well as the departments of Defense, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, and Education, gives NIH and NCI modest raises over FY25, and nullifies several aggressive cuts the White House had proposed for NIH.

January 23, 2026

Vol.52 No.03

By Jacquelyn Cobb

“Basic Experimental Studies Involving Humans” no longer classified as clinical trials at NIH in an effort to reduce administrative burden

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After a brief government shutdown, FY26 funding bill is signed into law
NIH gets $415M raise, NCI gets $128M more, CDMRP funding largely restored

NIH’s Bhattacharya acknowledges absence of causal link between vaccines and autism

The Directors: Gary Schwartz and Ramon Parsons on the best of times (for science), the worst of times (for funding)
Cancer centers fund small grants to boost morale amid low paylines

NIH suspends new embryonic stem cell line submissions

Itismeran autogene + Keytruda demonstrated improvement in recurrence-free survival in neoadjuvant melanoma

Spending bill passed by the House gives NIH $415M raise, NCI gets $128M
Legislation caps proportion of NIH grants to receive multiyear funding; indirect costs remain untouched

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“Basic Experimental Studies Involving Humans” no longer classified as clinical trials at NIH in an effort to reduce administrative burden

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

After a brief government shutdown, FY26 funding bill is signed into lawNIH gets $415M raise, NCI gets $128M more, CDMRP funding largely restored

NIH’s Bhattacharya acknowledges absence of causal link between vaccines and autism

The Directors: Gary Schwartz and Ramon Parsons on the best of times (for science), the worst of times (for funding)Cancer centers fund small grants to boost morale amid low paylines

NIH suspends new embryonic stem cell line submissions

Itismeran autogene + Keytruda demonstrated improvement in recurrence-free survival in neoadjuvant melanoma

Spending bill passed by the House gives NIH $415M raise, NCI gets $128MLegislation caps proportion of NIH grants to receive multiyear funding; indirect costs remain untouched

Never miss an issue!

Login

After a brief government shutdown, FY26 funding bill is signed into law
NIH gets $415M raise, NCI gets $128M more, CDMRP funding largely restored

The Directors: Gary Schwartz and Ramon Parsons on the best of times (for science), the worst of times (for funding)
Cancer centers fund small grants to boost morale amid low paylines

Spending bill passed by the House gives NIH $415M raise, NCI gets $128M
Legislation caps proportion of NIH grants to receive multiyear funding; indirect costs remain untouched