The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched a massive freeze on funding for research related to gender identity, inclusion and environmental issues. About this informs scientific journal Nature.
The department stated that such projects no longer correspond to their “priorities”. NIH staff is tasked with reviewing and potentially revoking grants for research related to transgender populations, gender identity, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) issues in science, and environmental justice. In addition, special attention is paid to the financing of Chinese universities and research related to climate change.
NIH directed its staff to review both new and ongoing studies for their connection to DEI. All projects are divided into four categories: the first includes those that fully support DEI, the second – those that are partially related to this topic. The third group includes studies that do not formally support DEI, but contain relevant terminology, and the fourth includes projects that have no connection to this field.
The documents show that 27 NIH institutes and centers should no longer provide grants for projects that fully comply with DEI principles. Studies that partially meet these criteria are subject to review, and if eligible elements cannot be removed from them, funding is terminated.
