Some changes to federal health and research policy are not unusual when transitioning between presidents. However, the new restrictions on the National Institutes of Health under a second Trump administration have worried many researchers. KCSB’s Joyce Chi talked to two neuroscientists at UC Santa Barbara – Drs. Karen Szumlinski and Tommy Sprague – to hear their thoughts on the matter.

UPDATE (2/5): Dr. Sprague said he was notified on Feb. 3 that study sections would continue as normal.

UPDATE (2/3): An NIH researcher who wished to remain anonymous told KCSB News that the agency's acting director said that as of Feb. 3, travel is still “not permitted” for things like giving talks or lectures, teaching classes as an official duty, or participating in national meetings for professional organizations. The researcher also said there was no other information provided to them.

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