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Citing the Trump administration’s recent threats to Brown’s federal research funding, President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 solicited donations and political support from alums and community members in a Wednesday email obtained by The Herald.
The email follows a freeze of $510 million in Brown’s federal funding, which was confirmed to The Herald by a White House official on April 3. Staff at the NIH have been instructed to freeze all funding to Brown, The Herald previously reported. As of Wednesday, the University still has not received official notice from the White House regarding the freeze.
The letter asked community members to donate to the general-purpose Brown Fund or the newly established Research Resilience Fund, where donations will be earmarked to address research shortfalls caused by federal funding uncertainties. Paxson also encouraged alums to call their congressional representatives about “protecting research funding both at Brown and at colleges and universities across the country.”
Since early April, Brown has not been reimbursed for expenses for grants connected with the National Institutes of Health, which “make up roughly 70% of Brown’s overall research portfolio,” Paxson wrote in her email. Losses from the lack of reimbursements accumulate to millions of dollars each week, she added.
Paxson also emphasized the impact of Brown’s research, highlighting that the lost federal funding supports clinical trials related to dementia, cancer and RNA research.
“Threats to this work have real-world consequences for patients and families,” she wrote. “I hope you will help us build collective advocacy to protect Brown's ability to fulfill its mission as a leading research institution.”
The letter also highlights the new advocacy web page created by the Office of Alumni Relations called “Brunonian Advocacy.”
“Your support will enhance Brown’s own advocacy, which has included legislative and legal efforts,” Paxson wrote, highlighting the University’s role in lawsuits against the NIH and the Department of Energy over research funding cuts. The email did not mention the ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human services into alleged Title VI violations at Brown.
“I thank you for joining Brown’s efforts to safeguard our mission and support the amazing people who make it possible for the University to make a transformative impact every day,” Paxson wrote.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Cate Latimer is a university news editor covering faculty, University Hall and higher education. She is from Portland, OR, and studies English and Urban Studies. In her free time, you can find her playing ultimate frisbee or rewatching episodes of Parks and Rec.
