| The recent administrative changes, funding disruptions, and staff reductions at NIH have created an alarming situation for aphasia research across the United States. As an organization established in 1962 that brings together specialists from neurology, linguistics, psychology, and speech pathology who all rely heavily on NIH funding, we view these developments with profound concern. Aphasia, a condition affecting language abilities that impacts nearly one-third of stroke survivors and numerous individuals living with other neurological conditions, requires sustained research attention. The value of this work cannot be overstated, as communication impairments can present significant challenges to daily life and social participation. |
| Funding research also offers an excellent return on US tax dollars. In 2023, the $37.81 billion NIH awarded supported 412,041 jobs and $92.89 billion in economic activity (United for Medical Research, 2024). The Academy of Aphasia views the proposed 15% ceiling on institutional support costs as particularly troubling. Research institutions require this funding to maintain crucial infrastructure that enables aphasia investigations: specialized assessment technologies, brain imaging equipment, secure participant data systems, and laboratory facilities. Furthermore, NIH-sponsored programs have created unprecedented opportunities for young scientists, and these cuts impede the continued training of the next generation of aphasia researchers. |
| The immediate consequences of these funding restrictions will extend beyond current research disruptions. Critically, they threaten to unravel the collaborative training and research ecosystem our organization and our academic and medical partners have carefully constructed to diagnose and treat aphasia. These include innovative cross-disciplinary approaches combining theoretical frameworks with clinical applications crucial to supporting aphasia survivors as they regain communication and social skills. The administration's actions will rob us of scientific advancements positioned to benefit more than 2.5 million Americans living with aphasia, and to reduce the >$15 billion in annual economic costs imposed by this communication disorder (Jacobs & Ellis, 2021). |
| In light of the historically bipartisan backing for medical research, we call on the US Administration to preserve appropriate funding mechanisms for NIH grantees. Consistency in funding maintains the momentum of scientific progress that offers hope to millions living with communication disorders. The Academy of Aphasia will continue advocating alongside partner organizations for substantial investment in communication disorders research, recognizing that stable funding directly translates to improved outcomes for individuals with aphasia and their families. |
| If you are a US-based researcher and feel comfortable doing so, please reach out to your representatives to share concerns regarding these threats to progress in understanding and treating aphasia. See this website which provides contact information, including names and phone numbers for your representatives: https://5calls.org/issue/nih-nsf-funding-cuts/. We hope the above text may be helpful to you in sending messages about the importance and impact of this research. Many thanks for your continued work. |
From the Board of the Academy of Aphasia
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