Provost David Kotz ’86 provided an update on Dartmouth’s response to the NIH policy capping facilities and administration/indirect costs, sharing that the AAU had filed a lawsuit challenging the cuts and that Dartmouth submitted a declaration under oath in support of the lawsuit, outlining the negative impact this policy would have on Dartmouth’s research infrastructure and operations, its ability to employ thousands in rural New Hampshire, and our capacity to produce life-saving research discoveries.

Office of Sponsored Projects Director Jill Mortali sent a message to faculty on the impact of the new National Institutes of Health indirect costs policy.

The National Institutes of Health announced a new policy capping the facilities and administrative rate (also known as indirect costs) at 15%. Dartmouth submitted a declaration detailing the adverse impacts of this policy as part of a lawsuit led by the American Association of Universities and others. That lawsuit and another submitted by the American Association of Medical Colleges—which includes the Geisel School of Medicine—resulted in the policy being paused by the courts on March 5. Concurrently, Dartmouth engaged with New Hampshire’s congressional delegation to articulate the policy’s effects, culminating in Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) referencing Dartmouth’s research and the potential impacts in a Senate floor speech.

Office of Sponsored Projects Director Jill Mortali shared an update on the recent Department of Justice and other federal agency communications on research funding.

President Sian Beilock continued biweekly discussions with the Ivy+ group and participated in several AAU convened calls for university leaders.