Editor’s Note: For timely updates, please visit the federal transition webpage.

In times of uncertainty, one thing remains clear: The power of research to illuminate the path forward.

The University of Utah is a community of thinkers and doers—people unafraid to cross boundaries and ask big questions. That spirit has never been more essential.

We are committed and have a variety of mechanisms to ensure that research at the University of Utah remains strong, even as we navigate policy changes like shifts in our Facilities and Administrative (F&A) rate at National Institute of Health (NIH). The University of Utah is well-positioned to navigate these changes with vision and resources.

Senior leadership is meeting multiple times a week to engage these shifts. We will also continue our VPR town halls every week moving forward on Tuesdays at 12 p.m. to ensure support and awareness for our research community. Our next meeting is this Tuesday, Feb. 11. At this meeting, we will provide updates on our advocacy efforts with the AAU, APLU and other organizations to support efforts to legal challenges.

Through past challenges—whether responding to COVID-19, securing research funding in shifting landscapes, or forging new collaborations—our community has remained resilient. We solve problems because they matter. From identifying the gene linked to breast cancer to developing software that protects wildland firefighters, our researchers take on the toughest challenges. And when policies shift, research continues. Because discovery doesn’t pause.

To those asking, “What should I do now?”—keep moving forward. Also, know we are committed to research and will ensure it remains one of our greatest assets. Keep imagining what’s possible. Research is one of our greatest assets, and we are committed to ensuring it remains a defining strength of this institution. The University of Utah has always been at the center of discovery, and together, we will continue to lead.

• RSVP for Feb. 11 VPR Townhall
• Link to APLU Statement
• Link to Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates.
• For ongoing updates, check out the Vice President for Research Updates on Federal Funding.
• Statement from Association of American Universities
• February 10th statement from the Association of American Universities