---
title: "NIH expands eligibility so businesses and nontraditional entities can apply for facilities funding"
id: "stat-news-4-businesses-can-now-apply-for-nih-funding"
canonical_url: "https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/stat-news-4-businesses-can-now-apply-for-nih-funding"
content_type: "clinical_feed_article"
specialty: "General"
source_name: "STAT News"
source_url: "https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/15/health-news-businesses-can-now-apply-for-nih-funding/?utm_campaign=rss"
published_at: "2026-09-15T12:03:33.000Z"
evidence_level: "Verified Feed"
license: "CC-BY-NC-4.0 / Informational Use"
---
# NIH expands eligibility so businesses and nontraditional entities can apply for facilities funding
## Provenance & Clinical Metadata
- **Canonical URL:** https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/stat-news-4-businesses-can-now-apply-for-nih-funding
- **Specialty:** [General](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/general.md)
- **Primary Source:** STAT News
- **Source URL:** [Original Journal Publication](https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/15/health-news-businesses-can-now-apply-for-nih-funding/?utm_campaign=rss)
- **Published At:** 2026-09-15T12:03:33.000Z
- **Evidence Rating:** Verified Feed
## Executive GIST (TL;DR)
- The NIH announced it has broadened eligibility for certain **facilities** grant funding to include local governments, other federal agencies, community-based organizations, and for-profit businesses in addition to traditional higher-education institutions and nonprofits. - The change aims to diversify institutions that receive infrastructure and overhead support, a goal the NIH director, Jay Bhattacharya, described as addressing a catch-22 that concentrates investments in a narrow set of institutions. - The expansion is part of a broader administration effort to decenter academia in research funding; the National Science Foundation has complementary initiatives such as the “X-Labs” program and a hybrid Ph.D. program combining academic and industry experience. - RFK Jr., who led an anti-vaccine group from 2015 to 2024, will give a keynote at the Children’s Health Defense conference; this marks his first public embrace of the group since joining the administration, a shift from earlier assurances to senators about not discouraging vaccination. - New polling from the Edelman Trust Institute and Yale shows patients value explanations of risks and benefits, understandable language, listening to life context, and nonjudgmental handling of doubts — underscoring relational aspects of **trust in science**. - A survey of about 2,600 pediatricians found 40% reported children in their care missed appointments over the prior 12 months because of fears about immigration status; another 38% were unsure whether immigration played a role, suggesting underestimation. - Cardiovascular disease became the leading cause of death in 2022 for U.S. Hispanic people, overtaking cancer, according to a statement from the American Heart Association; rising obesity, diabetes, and hypertension at younger ages and underrepresentation in research were cited as contributors. - NASA cardiology research explores how long space missions — such as a six-month trip to Mars — change heart shape, fluid distribution, and pumping, and why maintaining muscle and cardiovascular conditioning is important for astronaut health. - The roundup lists additional items of interest under “What we’re reading,” including STAT reporting on Medicare’s AI prior-authorization pilot, a Boston Globe piece on parents using AI for diagnosis, a CDC report on fruit and vegetable consumption, and pieces from The Marshall Project and STAT archives.
## Clinical Analysis & Structured Key Points
[Skip to Main Content](https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/15/health-news-businesses-can-now-apply-for-nih-funding/?utm_campaign=rss#wrapper) [ ![STAT](https://www.statnews.com/wp-content/themes/stat/images/stat-logo-white.svg) ![STAT](https://www.statnews.com/wp-content/themes/stat/images/stat-logo.svg) ](https://www.statnews.com/) * [Manage alerts for this article](https://www.statnews.com/my-account/edit/#emails) * Email this article * [Share this article](https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/15/health-news-businesses-can-now-apply-for-nih-funding/?utm_campaign=rss) [research](https://www.statnews.com/topic/research/) [legal](https://www.statnews.com/topic/legal/) [Donald Trump](https://www.statnews.com/topic/donald-trump/) * [Newsletters](https://www.statnews.com/signup/) * [Log In](https://www.statnews.com/login/) * [My Account](https://www.statnews.com/my-account/) * [Subscribe Now](https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/) My Account * [Settings Complete your personal information for a more tailored experience ](https://www.statnews.com/my-account/) * [Billing](https://www.statnews.com/my-account/billing/) * [Log In](https://www.statnews.com/login/) [ ![STAT](https://www.statnews.com/wp-content/themes/stat/images/stat-logo.svg) Reporting from the frontiers of health and medicine ](https://www.statnews.com/) * [Newsletters](https://www.statnews.com/signup/) * [Log In](https://www.statnews.com/login/) * [My Account](https://www.statnews.com/my-account/) * [Subscribe Now](https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/) * [Biotech](https://www.statnews.com/category/biotech/) * [Pharma](https://www.statnews.com/category/pharma/) * [Public Health](https://www.statnews.com/category/health/) * [Health Tech](https://www.statnews.com/category/health-tech/) * [Policy](https://www.statnews.com/category/politics/) * [Science](https://www.statnews.com/category/in-the-lab/) * [First Opinion](https://www.statnews.com/category/first-opinion/) * [STAT+](https://www.statnews.com/topic/stat-plus/) * [STAT Events](https://www.statnews.com/events/) [ ![STAT](https://www.statnews.com/wp-content/themes/stat/images/stat-logo.svg) ](https://www.statnews.com/) Search * [Log In](https://www.statnews.com/login/) * [Subscribe Now](https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/) * [My Account](https://www.statnews.com/my-account/) [Home](https://www.statnews.com/) News * [Latest](https://www.statnews.com/latest/) * [Series & Investigations](https://www.statnews.com/stat-series-and-investigations-award-winning-journalism/) * Business * [Biotech](https://www.statnews.com/category/biotech/) * [Pharma](https://www.statnews.com/category/pharma/) * [Health Tech](https://www.statnews.com/category/health-tech/) * [Health Insurance](https://www.statnews.com/category/insurance/) * [Hospitals](https://www.statnews.com/category/hospitals/) * [Medical Devices](https://www.statnews.com/topic/medical-devices/) * Washington * [Policy](https://www.statnews.com/category/politics/) * [FDA](https://www.statnews.com/topic/fda/) * [NIH](https://www.statnews.com/topic/nih/) * Science * [CRISPR](https://www.statnews.com/topic/crispr/) * [Gene Therapy](https://www.statnews.com/topic/gene-therapy/) * [Neuroscience](https://www.statnews.com/topic/neuroscience/) * Public Health * [Addiction](https://www.statnews.com/topic/addiction/) * [Covid-19](https://www.statnews.com/topic/coronavirus/) * [Abortion](https://www.statnews.com/topic/abortion/) * [Health Disparities](https://www.statnews.com/topic/health-disparities/) * [Infectious Disease](https://www.statnews.com/topic/infectious-disease/) * [Mental Health](https://www.statnews.com/topic/mental-health/) * Disease * [Cancer](https://www.statnews.com/topic/cancer/) * [Cardiovascular Disease](https://www.statnews.com/topic/cardiovascular-disease/) * [Chronic Disease](https://www.statnews.com/topic/chronic-disease/) * [Diabetes](https://www.statnews.com/topic/diabetes/) * [Alzheimer's](https://www.statnews.com/topic/alzheimers/) * [Obesity](https://www.statnews.com/topic/obesity/) * Features * [Health Care Costs](https://www.statnews.com/health-insurance-costs-out-of-pocket-out-of-reach-series/) * [The Deadliest Drug](https://www.statnews.com/alcohol-epidemic-hiding-plain-sight-deadliest-drug-series/) * [Science, Shattered](https://www.statnews.com/american-science-shattered/) [Newsletters](https://www.statnews.com/signup/) [Opinion](https://www.statnews.com/category/first-opinion/) Columns * [Adam Feuerstein](https://www.statnews.com/category/adams-take/) * [Matthew Herper](https://www.statnews.com/category/matts-take/) * [Ed Silverman](https://www.statnews.com/category/pharmalot-view/) [Reports](https://reports.statnews.com/) [E-books](https://www.statnews.com/ebooks/) [Podcasts](https://www.statnews.com/podcasts/) [Tools & Trackers](https://www.statnews.com/trackers/) * [CRISPR Tracker](https://www.statnews.com/feature/crispr/tracker/) * [Breakthrough Device Tracker](https://www.statnews.com/feature/stat-plus/breakthrough-device-designation-fda-tracker/) * [Generative AI Tracker](https://www.statnews.com/feature/stat-plus/generative-ai-health-hospitals-tracker/) * [Obesity Drug Tracker](https://www.statnews.com/2023/09/12/new-weight-loss-drug-tracker-novo-nordisk-eli-lilly/) [Events](https://www.statnews.com/events/) * [Upcoming Events](https://www.statnews.com/events#upcoming-events) * [Summits](https://www.statnews.com/stat-summits/) [Community](https://www.statnews.com/community/) * [STAT Wunderkinds 2026](https://www.statnews.com/wunderkinds-nominate/) [Video](https://youtube.com/@Statnews) [Advertise](https://www.statnews.com/advertise/) * [STAT Brand Studio](https://sbs.statnews.com/) What's the word? Test your knowledge with our new weekday mini crossword [ Start solving ](https://www.statnews.com/stat-mini-crossword/) Newsletter[Morning Rounds](https://www.statnews.com/category/health/morning-rounds/) # Businesses can now apply for NIH funding ## RFK Jr. to speak at Children’s Health Defense conference, how to protect your heart in outer space, and more health news * [Manage alerts for this article](https://www.statnews.com/my-account/edit/#emails) * Email this article * [Share this article](https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/15/health-news-businesses-can-now-apply-for-nih-funding/?utm_campaign=rss) ![](https://www.statnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20190371778_52f0709a8c_o-645x645.jpg) NIH ![](https://www.statnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Amanda-Erickson-avatar-round-80x80.png) ![](https://www.statnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Anil-Oza-avatar-round-80x80.png) ![](https://www.statnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/liz-c-avatar-small2-80x80.png) By [Amanda Erickson](https://www.statnews.com/staff/amanda-erickson/), [Anil Oza](https://www.statnews.com/staff/anil-oza/), and [Elizabeth Cooney](https://www.statnews.com/staff/elizabeth-cooney/) Sept. 15, 2026 ![](https://www.statnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Amanda-Erickson-avatar-round-80x80.png) [Amanda Erickson](https://www.statnews.com/staff/amanda-erickson/) amanda.erickson@statnews.com Amanda Erickson is a news editor at STAT. [Subscribe](https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/) or [log in](https://www.statnews.com/login/) to STAT+ to unlock email alerts ![](https://www.statnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Anil-Oza-avatar-round-80x80.png) [Anil Oza](https://www.statnews.com/staff/anil-oza/) 1. [](https://x.com/@AnilOza16 "X") anil.oza@statnews.com Anil Oza is a general assignment reporter at STAT focused on the NIH and health equity. You can reach him on Signal at aniloza.16. [Get email alerts for Anil OzaSigned up for email alertsRemove email alerts](https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/15/health-news-businesses-can-now-apply-for-nih-funding/?utm_campaign=rss) [Subscribe](https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/) or [log in](https://www.statnews.com/login/) to STAT+ to unlock email alerts ![](https://www.statnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/liz-c-avatar-small2-80x80.png) [Elizabeth Cooney](https://www.statnews.com/staff/elizabeth-cooney/) 1. [](https://x.com/cooney_liz "X") elizabeth.cooney@statnews.com Liz covers cardiovascular and metabolic disease, asking [why we’re not doing better](https://www.statnews.com/2024/10/15/cardiovascular-disease-rising-experts-on-causes/) or even [losing ground](https://www.statnews.com/2024/04/24/heart-failure-deaths-decline-undone/) against the world’s leading killer. Send tips on Signal at LizC.22. [Get email alerts for Elizabeth CooneySigned up for email alertsRemove email alerts](https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/15/health-news-businesses-can-now-apply-for-nih-funding/?utm_campaign=rss) [Subscribe](https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/) or [log in](https://www.statnews.com/login/) to STAT+ to unlock email alerts _Get your daily dose of health and medicine every weekday with STAT’s free newsletter Morning Rounds.[Sign up here](https://www.statnews.com/signup/morning-rounds/)._ Hello, I’m Amanda Erickson! For the past year, I’ve been editing Morning Rounds. Now, I’ll be writing the newsletter twice a week, on Mondays and Tuesdays. I’m very excited to share the latest health and science news. I’m also eager to hear from you: tell me what you like about the newsletter, what’s not working, and what you want to see more of. (If you have any favorite medicine memoirs, send those over as well! I’m still working on my fall reading list.) Advertisement In the meantime, read on for a fascinating new poll on trust in science, a story on heart health in space, and a big number that highlights how President Trump’s immigration policies may be impacting kids’ health. ## **RFK Jr. will speak at conference by anti-vax group** Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will deliver a keynote address at the Children’s Health Defense conference in Washington, D.C., this week. It’s something of a full circle moment for Kennedy, who ran the anti-vaccine organization from 2015 to 2024 before leaving to campaign for president. Since joining the Trump administration, Kennedy has tried to distance himself from the organization. As [_my colleague Isa Cueto explains_](https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/14/rfk-speech-childrens-health-defense-conference-washington/), “the CHD conference will serve as the secretary’s first public embrace of the group since he took the helm of HHS — a marked shift from January 2025, when Kennedy promised senators he would not do anything to discourage Americans from getting vaccines.” Advertisement ## **What patients want to hear from their doctors** In exploring why trust in science has declined, one question looms large: What can medical professionals actually do when patients choose to follow unscientific advice? Having those conversations is not easy – science is complicated _,_ and primary care doctors typically get just 20 minutes with a patient. As a pediatrician in Florida recently [ told public broadcaster WLRN](https://www.wlrn.org/2026-09-11/florida-vaccine-mandates-misinformation-pediatricians-children): “What’s happening now is kind of like being a pilot, and every passenger on the plane wants to know what every button on the console does.” New[ polling data](https://www.edelman.com/2026-edelman-trust-barometer-special-report-yale-trust-and-health) from the Edelman Trust Institute and the Yale School of Public Health underscore why those conversations are so crucial. The poll asked people across 13 countries what would be important to them if a medical expert wanted them to follow a recommendation about which they had doubts. The top five answers people most often ranked as critically important or very important included some things you’d expect a doctor to do, like explaining risks and benefits and using language patients can understand, but also listening “to make sure they understand me and my life situation” and welcoming doubts and addressing them “patiently and without judgment.” Trust, in other words, isn’t just about reciting the facts. It comes from the types of exchanges that emerge during a long-term relationship. As the CEOs of the Greenwall and Dana foundations put it in a [new First Opinion](https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/14/trust-in-science-academia-research-communication-listening/) on this subject: “Messaging can’t substitute for the relational infrastructure needed for building and sustaining trust.” Expect to hear more from me soon on how I’m approaching my new trust in science beat. In the meantime, story suggestions are more than welcome at _nicholas.florko@statnews.com_. — _Nick Florko_ ## 40% That’s the proportion of doctors who say children in their care have skipped medical appointments over the last 12 months due to fears about immigration status, [_according to a survey of about 2,600 pediatricians_](https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2026-078069) by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Another 38 percent of respondents said they weren’t sure if immigration played a role in missed appointments, “suggesting an underestimation of the families affected,” the authors wrote. Advertisement As my colleague Daniel Payne [_laid out_](https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/03/ice-immigration-crackdown-impact-on-health-care/) earlier this year, the Trump administration’s[ _aggressive immigration enforcement actions_](https://www.nytimes.com/article/trump-national-guard-military-cities.html) have resulted in patients from immigrant communities — including mothers and parents with sick children — avoiding care. Across the country, no-show rates for appointments are rising, and the number of vaccines given to immigrant populations has declined.In Dallas, for example, the local health department’s clinics gave 50% fewer back-to-school vaccinations to Hispanic children in August 2025 compared to August 2024. ## Why you shouldn’t skip leg day, even in space Space isn’t easy on the body. The lack of gravity changes the heart’s shape, the flow of fluid, and even how blood is pumped. So what’s an astronaut to do? That question has long animated Benjamin Levine, NASA’s top consulting cardiologist. In a new paper, he explores how the heart could be impacted by a six-month trip to Mars. (This is especially important since, as Levine put it: “I love the crew and the astronauts; they’re wonderful people, but they’re not particularly remarkable physical specimens.”) In [an interview with STAT](https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/15/heart-research-in-space-cardiovascular-health-nasa-astronauts-mars-mission/), Levine laid out what he learned about keeping astronauts healthy on possible journeys to (and from) the red planet. ## Businesses can now apply for NIH funding Last week, the National Institutes of Health announced an expansion of the kinds of organizations eligible for grant funding to bolster research facilities. Previously, only institutions of higher education and nonprofits could apply for this money. But now, local governments, other federal agencies, community based organizations, and, notably, for-profit businesses may [_access facilities funds_](https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-26-089.html) as well. This is part of a larger push from the Trump administration to decenter academia in the conduct of scientific research. In a [_May Senate hearing_](https://www.statnews.com/2026/05/21/nih-budget-hearing-3-questions-director-jay-bhattacharya/), NIH director Jay Bhattacharya talked about finding ways to diversify the types of institutions that receive such funding. Generally, money to support research overhead is tacked onto grants as “[ _indirect costs_](https://www.statnews.com/2025/02/08/nih-indirect-costs-explainer-research-budget-cuts-different-accounting/).” But, as Bhattacharya put it, in the current system, institutions need to have top notch equipment to attract talent that can then win grants. “This catch-22 guarantees that our investments in institutions will be concentrated,” he said at that hearing. Advertisement Beyond NIH, the National Science Foundation has also embraced a program, called “X-Labs” that prioritizes independent research organizations, and launched a Ph.D. program that combines academic experience with experience in industry. You can read more about that program from my colleague Jonathan Wosen [_here_](https://www.statnews.com/2026/07/29/hybrid-academia-industry-phd-program-announced-uidp/), or about the administration’s broader vision for science [_here_](https://www.statnews.com/2026/07/24/science-new-golden-age-report-draws-mixed-reaction/). — _Anil Oza_ ## **A new leading cause of death for Hispanic people in the U.S.** The “[ _Hispanic paradox_](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11572416/)” has long held that Hispanic adults in the U.S. were less likely to die from cardiovascular disease despite a higher burden of higher risk factors. Not anymore, according to a [_statement from the American Heart Association_](https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001463) published this morning. In 2022, cardiovascular disease displaced cancer as the top cause of death among U.S. Hispanics. Risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure emerge at younger ages compared to other populations, the new call to action emphasizes. “Although some CVD outcomes historically appeared favorable, a phenomenon referred to as the Hispanic paradox, emerging evidence indicates that rising cardiometabolic burden and acculturation-related risk factors may attenuate these advantages, particularly among U.S.-born individuals,” the AHA asserts. Why was this missed before? Treating Hispanic people — who are not always well represented in research — as a monolithic group obscured differences across heritage groups, including limited access to care that might mean underdiagnosis, the AHA said. Other explanations include selective migration to and from the U.S., differences in social support, and data limitations. — _Elizabeth Cooney_ ## What we’re reading * [Medicare’s AI prior-authorization pilot was rushed and full of problems, new documents reveal](https://www.statnews.com/?p=1520078), STAT * [_These parents didn’t know why their daughter was sick. They turned to AI to help solve the mystery_](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/12/metro/ai-chatgpt-health-rare-disease/), The Boston Globe * A [new CDC report](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/hestat123.htm) on how Americans are doing on fruit and vegetable consumption * [ICE treatment of transgender women reversing years-long practices](https://www.themarshallproject.org/2026/09/12/ice-women-transgender-trump-detention?utm_campaign=opening-statement&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=4622-failing-flailing-federal-prosecutions&utm_source=TMP-Newsletter&utm_campaign=971b9feb58-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_09_14_10_38&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5e02cdad9d-971b9feb58-171413189), The Marshall Project * And from the STAT archives: [_Inside the hospital ‘war rooms’ bracing for Medicaid cuts_](https://www.statnews.com/2025/09/15/hospitals-how-to-survive-medicaid-cuts/) [health care](https://www.statnews.com/topic/health-care/) [Submit a correction request](https://www.statnews.com/contact/?how_can_we_help_=Editorial%20Correction%20Request)[Reprints](https://www.parsintl.com/publications/stat/) 1. ![](https://www.statnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Amanda-Erickson-avatar-round-80x80.png) [Amanda Erickson](https://www.statnews.com/staff/amanda-erickson/) 1. News Editor 1. Amanda Erickson is a news editor at STAT. 2. ![](https://www.statnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Anil-Oza-avatar-round-80x80.png) [Anil Oza](https://www.statnews.com/staff/anil-oza/) 1. [](https://x.com/@AnilOza16 "X") 2. General Assignment Reporter 1. [](https://x.com/@AnilOza16 "X")
## Related Clinical Research

- [New ACC/AHA Guidance on Cardiovascular Care for Tactical Athletes](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/stat-news-1-tactical-athletes-get-new-guidance-for-cardiovascular-fitness.md)
- [Updated 2026 Migraine Prevention Guidelines Reflect Expanded Treatment Options](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/stat-news-0-new-guidelines-on-migraine-prevention-reflect-increasing-options-for-patients.md)
- [Cardiac-targeted delivery strategies for advanced therapies in heart disease](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/pubmed-42284133.md) (DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehag432)
- [Modifiable risk factors linked to vulnerable coronary plaques: OCT study finds 5 drivers](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/medical-news-today-0-5-modifiable-risk-factors-may-fuel-high-risk-plaques-linked-to-heart-attacks.md)
- [Keto Diet Shows Superior Metabolic Benefits Over Mediterranean and Low-Fat Diets](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/medical-news-today-1-keto-diet-may-have-metabolic-advantages-over-mediterranean-low-fat-diets.md)

## Navigation
- [← Back to General Feed](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/general.md)
- [← All Clinical Specialties](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed.md)
## Medical & Regulatory Disclaimer

> [!CAUTION]
> MedicHelpline content is structured for research, educational, and professional discovery purposes. It does not constitute individual medical advice, clinical diagnosis, or treatment recommendations.
> Always verify dosing, contraindications, and regulatory alerts against official product labeling and primary regulatory sources before clinical decision-making.