NIH’s sudden move to multiyear grant funding is forcing shocking cuts in the number of grants funded. This is an effective budget cut. It's bad, folks.
I get why this is disruptive for scientists this year. But next year, since the labs that got a multi-year grant the previous year presumably won't be applying, it should be easier for labs that didn't get funding that year to get funding since they won't have to compete with these labs. And so and son on for a couple more years. So while the change will cause some short term disruption, in time (unless the budget is cut), presumably just as many scientists get funded. Is that wrong? If so, what am I missing here?
Good points! The concern is whether some of these Labs will have to lay off staff before next year. The other concern is that the plan is to free up future money to direct away from traditional science, toward alternative theories.
I get why this is disruptive for scientists this year. But next year, since the labs that got a multi-year grant the previous year presumably won't be applying, it should be easier for labs that didn't get funding that year to get funding since they won't have to compete with these labs. And so and son on for a couple more years. So while the change will cause some short term disruption, in time (unless the budget is cut), presumably just as many scientists get funded. Is that wrong? If so, what am I missing here?
Good points! The concern is whether some of these Labs will have to lay off staff before next year. The other concern is that the plan is to free up future money to direct away from traditional science, toward alternative theories.
Ah ok. Better understand the concern now.