In response to the Administration’s proposed deep cuts to the FY 2027 budget for the National Institutes of Health, AAI President, Ulrich H. von Andrian, MD, released the following statement:
The American Association of Immunologists (AAI) is deeply alarmed by the Administration’s fiscal year (FY) 2027 budget request, which calls for an estimated $5.8 billion (12.3%) reduction in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) compared with FY 2026.
The request also unwisely targets the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) for a disproportionately large cut of $1.795 billion.
This stands in stark contrast to the bipartisan commitment Congress demonstrated in February of this year when it increased NIH funding for FY 2026 by $415 million over FY2025. AAI strongly urges Congress to reject this proposal and continue its longstanding support for lifesaving biomedical research.
NIH research provides an extraordinary return on investment (ROI). Long-term, it fuels foundational discoveries that lead to new preventions, treatments, and cures that improve and save lives. It has immediate economic ROI as well. In 2025, NIH funding generated an estimated $2.57 in new economic activity for every $1 invested and supported more than 390,000 jobs nationwide.
Cuts of this magnitude would have far-reaching consequences. Early career scientists — the next generation of innovators — would face fewer opportunities, greater uncertainty, and a heightened risk of being driven out of research altogether. Major scientific advances, including many in immunology that underpin cancer immunotherapy, vaccines, and treatments for autoimmune and infectious diseases, would be delayed or lost.
AAI urges Congress to prioritize sustained, predictable, and robust investment in NIH, and recommends a funding level of at least $51.3 billion for the NIH base budget and $7.15 billion for NIAID for FY 2027. Protecting the nation’s scientific capacity is essential for driving innovation, supporting the health and well‑being of all people, and maintaining America’s global leadership in biomedical research.
At a moment when biomedical research is delivering breakthroughs that are saving lives every day, a cut of this magnitude to NIH would be devastating. Behind every grant is a team of scientists working to understand disease, prevent suffering, and develop the next generation of treatments and cures. Slashing support now would stall critical research, force talented young scientists out of the field, and set back scientific discovery for years to come.
AAI President, Ulrich H. von Andrian, MD
