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Publication

Tracking Two Years of Change in NIH Funding

Published
  • Oct. 15, 2026
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New AAMC report shares insights into two years of change for NIH grantees

Tracking Two Years of Change in NIH Funding reports on changes in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant funding during FY 2025 and FY 2026, including unpredictable award patterns, increased use of the multiyear funding mechanism, and unprecedented grant disruptions. Although the NIH fully obligated its extramural grant budget in both years, the report highlights how funding disruptions and unpredictable award patterns affected research progress, institutional planning, and the biomedical research workforce.

FY 2025 and FY 2026 were marked by unpredictable award patterns, disruptions, and other NIH funding changes

The NIH awarded approximately 58,500 grants in FY 2025 and 56,600 in FY 2026, compared with 64,000 in FY 2024.

Since January 2025, 5,776 NIH grants have been frozen or terminated, including 1,175 grants that have not been restored.

NIH awarded an estimated $2.1 billion in FY 2025 and $1.9 billion in FY 2026 to multiyear-funded competitive research grants.

Tracking Two Years of Change in NIH Funding