To our campus community,
In the last three weeks, we’ve witnessed a whirlwind of federal actions, and that speed has come with little clarity. We, too, feel the anxiety of this uncertainty and want you to know that we are monitoring all federal updates to learn and act on as much as we can as quickly as we can.
The latest federal action has a direct impact on our research — a pillar of UWM’s unique dual mission. The research community goes hand-in-hand with our access priority, giving all students a high-quality education and the tools to take their knowledge and innovation into the workforce and society.
Late on Friday, the National Institutes of Health issued a guidance that lowered the rate of indirect cost reimbursements for all National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants effective Feb. 10. This federal funding is essential to support research on our campus. Indirect expenses are not directly for the performance of the research but are critical nonetheless: for example, research administrative support, maintaining research space, utilities and IT infrastructure.
The budget impact would be significant to the university’s research enterprise. UWM’s on-campus research indirect rate is currently 54% for NIH and all other federal grants – the new policy lowers the NIH rate to 15%. This reduction is intended to affect any current NIH grants and future proposals. UWM currently has approximately $7.9 million in active NIH awards.
The research conducted with these grants affects us all. These projects support vital research that enhances quality of life by improving physical and mental health interventions, disease prevention strategies and public health policies. Just a few examples of these projects at UWM include studies on genetic mutations linked to birth defects in children, the neuroscience of aging and the effects of wheelchair use on shoulder pain.
Today, several state attorneys general filed suit in federal court in Massachusetts to challenge the NIH indirect rate reduction. Wisconsin is a party to this lawsuit, so any injunctive or other relief should apply to all Universities of Wisconsin campuses, including UWM. Late this afternoon, a judge granted a temporary restraining order to prevent the implementation of the rate change. Further legal proceedings in the case will occur later this month.
On this and all other federal actions, UWM staff are working closely with the Universities of Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s congressional delegation, professional associations and colleagues across the country to assess and address the potential impact on our campus and advocate for the essential research funded by NIH and other federal agencies.
Separate from the NIH guidance, agencies are issuing stop-work orders for certain research based on other federal directives. The Office of Research is working with affected researchers to address any orders and will be following this message with specific updated guidance to university researchers.
To provide our campus community with timely and comprehensive updates on all federal issues, UWM has a Federal Updates webpage. Use this page for one-stop access to campus messages, research updates and a link to the Universities of Wisconsin Federal Updates webpage.
Questions about federally funded research should be directed to the Office of Research at or-support@uwm.edu. Questions or issues for the UWs federal updates work group may be directed to Chief Government Relations Officer Keri Duce.
Sincerely,
Chancellor Mark Mone
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Andrew Daire
Interim Vice Provost for Research & Graduate School Dean Kristian O’Connor