The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed a rule on federal financial assistance, which would dramatically change how federally funded research and other grant programs are awarded, reviewed and managed across agencies and institutions nationwide. Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all, issued the following statement:
"The Office of Management and Budget's proposed rule raises serious concerns about the independence of science and the future of biomedical and population-based research in the United States. Predictable, transparent and evidence-based approaches to funding are essential to maintaining the nation's leadership in research and ensuring that communities continue to benefit from effective public health programs. Policies that undermine independence or shift decisions away from established scientific and public health expertise risk weakening the innovation and collaboration needed to meet current and future health challenges.
"For decades, federally supported work has driven scientific innovation, improved health outcomes and helped deliver lifesaving programs in communities across the country and around the globe. These advances are possible because of strong, merit-based processes grounded in independent, expert review. As the largest funder of cardiovascular research outside the federal government, the American Heart Association sees firsthand how sustained, independent investment in science helps drive discovery and save lives.
"The Heart Association supports thoughtful efforts to assess and strengthen federal programs to ensure they achieve the greatest impact. However, it is critical to avoid abrupt, haphazard or disruptive changes that could have unintended consequences for scientific discovery, research investment and public health programs. We are already seeing signs that uncertainty and instability in federal research funding can delay or disrupt important scientific work and create unnecessary interruption for researchers and institutions.
"Federal grants and cooperative agreements support a wide range of work across biomedical research and community-based health programs, and abrupt changes that create uncertainty or introduce new barriers threaten progress toward new discoveries to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere.
"The Heart Association opposes efforts that undermine science or weaken independent, expert review, and we look forward to working with policymakers, researchers and public health leaders to ensure federal investments strengthen independent science, support community-based health efforts and improve health outcomes for all people."
