The Trump administration's pause on federal grant funding is having a tangible impact on research in the Triangle, particularly work that benefits from National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants.
The NIH, a pivotal source of funding for research, has paused new grants, though ongoing clinical trials remain unaffected according to the acting NIH director. This pause has raised concerns among North Carolina's research community.
Other WRAL Top Stories
North Carolina receives nearly $2 billion annually from NIH grants, which support a multitude of research programs across the state. For example, Duke University's study on the effects of chemical exposure on Alzheimer's Disease, a clinical trial focused on dietary interventions for Type 2 diabetes, and a significant research initiative aimed at preventing future pandemics led by the Research Triangle Institute are all beneficiaries of NIH funding.
SEARCH: NIH grants by location, organization
Duke University is the largest recipient of NIH funding in North Carolina, securing $580 million in 2024 alone. Closely following is UNC-Chapel Hill, which received $531 million last year. Other major institutions like Wake Forest Medical School, NC State, UNC Charlotte and ECU also receive substantial funding for health and medical research. The potential delay or jeopardy of renewing existing projects or obtaining new funding poses a significant risk to these institutions' research capabilities.
The NIH has indicated that previously approved grants will continue as planned. However, the uncertainty surrounding the renewal of current projects and the approval of new ones remains.
At the recent announcement of plans for a North Carolina children's hospital, Dr. Mary E. Klotman, dean of Duke University School of Medicine, emphasized the importance of research to the university's mission and to the health of the state and the world.
"As you know, research is fundamental to what we can do in our institutions but more importantly what we can do for children. The current status, we're trying to understand what the longer term implications are," she said.
NIH grants to North Carolina universities
| University | Total grants amount |
| Duke University | $580,240,770 |
| UNC Chapel Hill | $531,331,717 |
| RTI | $396,921,298 |
| Wake Forest Med School | $140,009,452 |
| NC State | $48,280,873 |
| UNC Charlotte | $9,768,020 |
| ECU | $8,238,449 |
| NC Central | $6,989,047 |
| Wake Forest University | $6,910,363 |
| NC A&T | $5,582,131 |
| UNC Greensboro | $4,974,258 |
| UNC Wilmington | $1,331,677 |
| App State | $577,462 |
| High Point University | $447,000 |
| UNC Pembroke | $250,538 |
| Winston-Salem State | $195,082 |