Core Points - The Trump administration plans to cut the NIH budget by $18 billion for 2026, representing a 40% reduction, which could significantly impact drug development in the long term [1][3] - The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that a 10% reduction in NIH funding for preclinical research could lead to a decrease of at least 20 drugs entering development over the next 30 years, resulting in a 4.5% reduction in new drug approvals [3] - As of July 3, 4473 NIH grant projects are affected, with over $10 billion at risk of funding freezes, primarily impacting research grants [3] - NIH supports approximately 2500 institutions and over 300,000 scientists, making it a cornerstone of biomedical research in the U.S. [3] - A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicates that NIH funding was crucial for the research of 210 new drugs approved by the FDA between 2010 and 2016 [3] Impact on Talent and Research - Scientists warn that funding cuts may lead to significant talent loss, pushing young researchers to seek opportunities abroad and weakening U.S. leadership in global research [4] - The potential outflow of researchers could reduce the number of research institutions and laboratories in the U.S., impacting collaboration and innovation [4] - Experts emphasize that long-term government investment in basic research is essential for scientific breakthroughs, which may not always translate directly into drugs but can yield life-saving results [4] Regulatory Changes - In addition to budget cuts, the Trump administration has tightened new drug regulatory approval processes, including significant layoffs at the FDA, which could increase the review time for new drug applications by nine months [5]