Stand Up for Science Condemns Latest Round of NIH Grant Cancellations

Terminations of National Institutes of Health grants target health disparities research; more cancellations expected

WASHINGTON DC, DC, UNITED STATES, August 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Today, Stand Up for Science is responding to the news, as reported in Science, that the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has cancelled two more research grants, specifically ongoing projects investigating connections between health and socioeconomic factors. NIH claimed the grants were terminated for not aligning with NIH’s priorities.

“It’s appalling that NIH Director Bhattacharya, who studied health disparities for most of his own career, seems more than happy to lead this charge to eliminate these research studies as part of the administration’s crusade against ‘DEI’,” said Dr. Colette Delawalla, Founder and CEO of Stand Up for Science.

“It’s notable that NIH changed their contract language before cancelling these grants. They’re giving themselves more legal coverage this time around but this is still a massive waste. Cancelling public health research projects as they’re nearing completion — millions of dollars into the project, with nothing to show for it — is the very definition of waste.”

In 2025, NIH cancelled more than 1700 grants, which were later restored. NIH has since added language to its grant contracts that allow the agency to cancel the award if it is not in line with the agency’s priorities.

Delawalla is available for comment.

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Stand Up for Science is a grassroots, Washington, D.C. based non-profit organization advocating for science and democracy. Stand Up for Science was formed in February 2025 in response to executive orders disrupting federal science agencies and the funding of the American scientific ecosystem. Stand Up For Science mobilized over 50,000 people at 170+ events across the world on its first National Day of Action in March 2025. Federal scientists across multiple agencies (NIH, EPA, NASA, FEMA) have chosen Stand Up for Science as their platform to publish open letters of concern.

Stand Up For Science is a 501(c)(4) [EIN: 33-4154429] non-profit organization and donations are not tax-deductible.

Char Bowling
Stand Up for Science
media@standupforscience.net
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