Uncertainty, chaos for Canadian researchers as confusion reigns over Trump administration medical funding [Video]

Canadian scientists say the uncertainty surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump’s apparent pause on federal health spending could stall research on new drugs, vaccines, and treatments for cancer, dementia and more — including at labs in Canada.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) powers some of the best scientists around the world. Most of its $47-billion US budget last year funded research that the agency deemed could “enhance health, lengthen life, reduce illness and disability.”  That includes work being done by Canadian researchers, who received over $40 million US of funding last year.

Now there’s confusion. On Jan. 21, the Trump administration imposed a communication freeze until Feb. 1 for federal health officials. At the NIH, that meant key meetings that decide which scientific research to fund were cancelled, with no word on when they would be rescheduled.  

This week, an NIH webpageon grants and funding, a dashboard for researchers, announced unspecified changes that will affect …