NIH ban on renewing senior scientists adds to assaults on its in-house research

The Trump administration has imposed a new restriction on employment that could push out thousands of NIH’s senior scientists: The agency cannot retain scientists in 1-year to 4-year positions that have long been routinely renewed.

It’s the Trump administration’s latest blow to NIH’s $5.2 billion intramural program. Less well known than the agency’s $39 billion extramural program, which gives grants to researchers at outside institutions, it includes basic research labs and a research hospital that treats patients with rare diseases—and helps showcase NIH’s work and build support from Congress, those familiar with it say.

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