Imaging industry urges Congress to oppose cuts to critical research overhead payments

Members of the imaging industry are urging lawmakers to oppose cuts to payments covering overhead for research in radiology and other specialties. 

The National Institutes of Health announced Feb. 7 that the Trump administration is imposing a 15% cap on institutions’ ability to recover indirect costs related to research. Experts note this represents a substantial reduction—costing universities, nonprofits and others billions, with overhead often ranging from 50% to 60% of direct research costs. 

The Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging on Feb. 28 urged physicians to contact Congress, asking their representatives to restore full support from the NIH. 

“This funding is vital for sustaining the infrastructure that enables groundbreaking medical discoveries; yet, the new policy undermines the ability of research institutions to carry out their work effectively,” SNMMI said in a news update. 

Commonly covered indirect costs include security services, data processing, and other necessities for ensuring the “smooth operation of critical research infrastructure.” Failing to fund these functions, SNMMI contends, will result in challenges that could potentially halt progress in the imaging industry. 

The NIH budget currently funds research across all 50 states, helping to create jobs, foster innovation and strengthen local economies, the society noted. 

“Strong federal emphasis on medical research has allowed the United States to lead the world in innovation,” SNMMI said, urging members to write their representatives in Congress. “Policymakers must recognize the long-term damage that a 15% cap on indirect costs will cause and take action to ensure that research institutions receive the necessary funding to continue their lifesaving work—the field of nuclear medicine, and the health of our nation, depends on it.”

Lawsuits, other supporters

Multiple states and the Association of American Medical Colleges have filed lawsuits opposing the NIH cuts since the announcement. A federal judge announced Feb. 20 she would extend a temporary restraining order preventing the institutes from capping indirect costs related to research. 

The order applies to 22 states whose Democratic attorneys general filed suit seeking to protect payments for research. Last month, the American College of Radiology also reported that multiple members of Congress have spoken against the 15% cap, including Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Patty Murray, D-Wash. 

ACR, SNMMI and multiple other radiology societies were among 500 organizations writing to Congress Feb. 25, asking lawmakers to prioritize research funding in forthcoming budget discussions. They want the National Institutes of Health to receive at least the $1.77 billion increase proposed in a bipartisan Senate appropriations bill.

“…we urge you to prioritize robust funding for the National Institutes of Health in the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations bill and, in that legislation, preserve existing protections against cuts to reimbursement for NIH grantee facilities and administrative costs,” the groups wrote. “We hope you can continue to prioritize this engine of health and economic growth in your appropriations bills,” they added later. 

Others signing the message included the Academy for Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Research, American Society of Neuroradiology, the Association of Academic Radiology, the Radiological Society of North America, Society for Pediatric Radiology, Society of Interventional Radiology, the Society of Skeletal Radiology, and the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine.