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Science Policy Hub

The AAMC engages frequently with federal agencies on policies and regulations that impact the funding, conduct, and oversight of medical research at academic medical centers.

Issues We’re Watching

This section contains information on ongoing policy/regulation development, as well as forthcoming implementation deadlines. For additional in-depth coverage of policy topics, please refer to Science Policy Issues in the left-hand navigation.

Federal Grant Funding Updates

AAMC Analysis on the Impact of NIH Grant Terminations 

The AAMC has been closely monitoring and analyzing the impact of National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant terminations on U.S. institutions. A new AAMC analysis focuses on a key area of impact: terminations of research training and career development grants that help build the next generation of the biomedical research workforce. Of 2,282 NIH grants terminated as of June 4, 38% were research training and career development grants, accounting for $512 million in lost funding across U.S. institutions. Previous analyses published in May 2025 detailed grant terminations as well as impacts on NIH-funded clinical trials. 

Facilities & Administrative Costs

Funding Information from NIH: 

Funding-Related Litigation 

Grant Terminations

Facilities and Administrative (Indirect) Costs

Policy Issues the AAMC is Monitoring 

Forthcoming Implementation Deadlines 

  • The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is implementing multiple changes that will impact the preparation and peer review of most grant applications submitted to the agency due on or after Jan. 25, 2025.
  • The NIH public access policy will go into effect July 1, 2025. 
  • The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final rule revising the regulations governing Public Health Service Policies on Research Misconduct, which must be implemented through new institutional policies and procedures by Jan. 1, 2026. For more information, visit the HHS Office of Research Integrity.

Federal Scientific Leadership

  • HHS Secretary: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (confirmed 2/13/25)
  • NIH Director: Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD (confirmed 3/25/25)
  • FDA Commissioner: Martin Makary, MD, MPH (confirmed 3/25/25)
    • Director of FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer: Vinay Prasad, MD, MPH (confirmed 5/6/25). 
  • CDC Director: Vacant (Susan Monarez, PhD nominated on 3/24/25)
  • OSTP Director: Michael Kratsios (confirmed 3/25/25)
  • CMS Administrator: Mehmet Oz, MD (confirmed 4/3/25)
  • Surgeon General: Vacant (Casey Means, MD nominated on 5/7/25)

Take Action

This section contains engagement opportunities the AAMC has identified as important for the academic medical research enterprise. If you have questions about any of the items in this section, please reach out to us at researchpolicy@aamc.org.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have launched a public comment period for input on outdated or unnecessary regulations, with comments due July 14. The AAMC previously submitted a May 12 response (PDF) to the Office of Management and Budget's broader request for information on deregulation across the federal government, focusing on FDA and HHS regulations relating to biomedical research and health care delivery. AAMC also emphasized the need to modernize outdated requirements, harmonize duplicative regulations, and streamline compliance without compromising critical protections.

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Learn About the Comment Process

Public Engagement in the Federal Rulemaking Process

Federal agencies solicit feedback on proposed regulations, policies, and other programmatic activities through the "notice and comment" process, where draft documents are made available to the public for response. Typically, these notices are posted in the Federal Register, on the agency websites, or in official notices such as the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. Agencies may also use email listservs or social medial to reach broader audiences. The public typically has 30-60 days to provide written comments in response to the agency, who may also hold public meetings or listening sessions. Submitted responses to proposed regulations are typically placed in an online docket and can be accessed by the public. After the comment period ends, the agency reviews and considers the feedback submitted and generally concludes the process by publishing a final regulation, policy, or programmatic decision in the Federal Register or other official agency channels. Once a regulation is issued as a final rule it becomes "effective" meaning that the regulated community must come into compliance with its requirements.

How the AAMC Develops Science Policy Comment Letters

Comment letters are one essential step in the AAMC's efforts to inform the development of federal agency initiatives. The science policy team begins with a thorough review of proposed regulations, policies, or agency actions that affect the biomedical research mission in academic medicine. We identify comment opportunities where AAMC expertise can meaningfully add to agency deliberations and which could impact AAMC members' interests across the spectrum of research from fundamental discovery to clinical trials and population health research, particularly in areas of research conduct, training, grants, policy, and oversight. Engaging the AAMC constituent community is also a key part of this process. To gather input, we host community calls, conduct surveys, and maintain open lines of communication with key collaborators, including AAMC affinity groups and other organizations. Final comment letters are published on this webpage under Recent AAMC Comments and featured in AAMC Abstract and Washington Highlights, weekly newsletters for the AAMC community.

Are you aware of a comment opportunity that isn't mentioned on this page and want to know if AAMC will be responding? Reach out to us at researchpolicy@aamc.org.

Making Your Voice Heard at FDA
The Insider's Guide to Effective Commenting on NIH Policies
Brookings: How to Effectively Comment on Regulations (PDF)