Pennsylvania Poised to Lose Funds and Jobs Under Proposed Funding Cuts to Research

April 17, 2025

Pennsylvania is among the top five states with the largest impact from proposed National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding cuts, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Maryland and University of Pennsylvania recently released an interactive map showing that proposed NIH funding cuts will lead to an estimated $16 billion in economic loss and 68,000 jobs lost nationwide. Pennsylvania is predicted to lose $973 million and 4,201 jobs.

“The NIH funds crucial research to address leading health problems like cancer, diabetes, dementia, heart disease, infectious diseases, mental illness and more,” said project co-lead Alyssa Sinclair, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at Penn’s Annenberg Public Policy Center and the Communication Neuroscience Lab at the Annenberg School for Communication. “Research innovations directly improve our daily lives by curing and preventing diseases, unlocking new technologies, and improving the safety of our food, water and environments.” 

Here are five things to know:

• Facilitating Understanding:  The Science & Community Impacts Mapping Project (SCIMaP) communicates how proposed federal funding cuts lead to reduced economic activity and job losses nationwide.
• Grants Support Research Nationwide:  More than $35 billion in NIH-funded medical research has been made possible annually through grant support to universities, hospitals, and research institutes in communities across the U.S.
• Rate of Return:  The United for Medical Research coalition estimates that every $1 invested in scientific research through the NIH produces $2.56 in new economic activity, a more than 250 percent return on investment.
• Related Costs Factored:  The proposed NIH federal funding cuts would greatly reduce the funding that covers the indirect costs of research already committed in grants. These funds pay for essential facilities, special equipment, skilled staff, and safety checks that are shared across many research projects.
• Quotable:  “Medical and scientific breakthroughs supported by the U.S. government impact all our lives,” said Emily Falk, professor and vice dean of Penn’s Annenberg School for Communication. “Research innovations are at the core of many things that enhance our daily lives and keep us safer.” 

More information about the mapping project is available online.