Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced it would be cutting billions in overhead costs associated with federally funded research grants that go to various institutions, as part of a wider move by the Trump administration to slash wasteful spending. (U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.)
Democratic Sens. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland and Ed Markey of Massachusetts both pressed Bhattacharya specifically about research that looks into health issues that impact minorities — an area Democrats worry could be undermined at the NIH due to Trump's campaign against the Left's views on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
"The health needs of minority populations in this country are a vital priority for me … I want to make sure the research that the NIH does addresses those health needs, and I don't see anything in the president's orders that contradicts that, in fact, quite to the contrary," Bhattacharya said. "What I've heard from [Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] and from the president is ‘Let’s make America Healthy,' meaning all Americans."
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When Alsobrooks cited a project Bhattacharya worked on related to Alzheimer's disease, which included mentoring "diverse" professionals, he said that his understanding of that part of the project meant mentoring researchers with a diverse set of ideas, not a diverse set of skin colors.
"I think fundamentally what matters is: Do scientists have an idea that advances the scientific field they're in?" Bhattacharya replied. "Do they have an idea that ends up addressing the health needs of Americans?"
Bhattacharya acknowledged that "identifying" health disparities among minority groups is important, but emphasized the need for research that drives meaningful outcomes.
Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Ed Markey joins airport service workers and union leaders on Capitol Hill to urge Congress to pass pro-union policies in 2023. (Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for SEIU)
In addition to addressing numerous questions from Democrats about Trump's funding cuts, Bhattacharya also outlined his plans to reform the NIH's research portfolio during his Wednesday confirmation hearing.
Trump's NIH nominee said he hopes to focus on cutting-edge research and other "big ideas" as opposed to continuing to put all the federal government's money into research that doesn't involve the same ambitious goals. He also briefly spoke about improving the frequency of "validation research" and increasing the number of NIH applications funded for younger investigators.
Concerns from Republicans during the hearing included whether Bhattacharya would continue supporting research investigating the link between vaccines and autism, something Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said has been proven over and over again to have no link, and whether he will permit the continued use of aborted fetal tissue in NIH-funded research.
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When an NIH research grant is awarded, an additional percentage, on top of the allocated research funding, goes to the facility housing their work to cover "indirect costs." (Fox News)
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Bhattacharya agreed with Cassidy that the linkage between autism and vaccines is clear — there isn't one. However, he acknowledged that others may disagree with him. In line with his commitment to embracing dissenting ideas and promoting free speech in medical research, he suggested that commissioning studies could help the public gain a clearer understanding that no link exists.
On the issue of halting the use of aborted fetal tissue, during Trump's first term, he banned its use, and Bhattacharya said he would follow the president's lead on the issue.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-nih-appointee-defends-presidents-research-funding-cuts