Jamie Williamson

A 10-foot microscope reveals big lessons about the tiniest threats to the human body A technological revolution is helping Scripps Research scientists see the molecules that undermine human health, from COVID-19 to cancer — and hopefully fight them.

The revolution in resolution
Titan Krios—"It routinely lets us see life's tiniest machines—proteins, viruses and the atoms they combine—with breakthrough clarity."
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/27/a...

Congrats Ruben! You are now on point!…

um…only Seniors use the ticket counter…🤷‍♂️

YouTube video by Association of American Universities Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs Explainer

This youtube video, also from AAU, is great for friends and families that might not understand. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxTD...

Last year, $9B of the $35B that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) granted for research was used for administrative overhead, what is known as "indirect costs." Today, NIH lowered the maximum indirect cost rate research institutions can charge the government to 15%, above what many major foundations allow and much lower than the 60%+ that some institutions charge the government today. This change will save more than $4B a year effective immediately.

The Federal Government just capped indirect rates for new and existing grants for research at universities at 15%.

Capping indirect costs was on page 355 of Project 2025’s Mandate for Leadership

This seems like the likely strategy to placate the red state senators whose universities are being savaged…

Indirect research costs are complicated, wonky — and crucial to science After two decades of work in biomedical research policy, there is no topic Carrie Wolinetz hates talking about more than indirect costs. She’s addressing them now because they are crucial.

From Carrie Wolinetz, former Senior Advisor to the Office of the Director, Associate Director for Science Policy, and Chief of Staff to Francis Collins at NIH

www.statnews.com/2025/02/08/n...

It’s also important to understand that if a foundation allows 10% IDC, and the negotiated IDC is 50%, the 40% “shortfall” MUST be paid by the institute from OTHER sources. Typically from interest on the endowment. So taking foundation grants has a cost.

Now NIH grants will too.

Here’s a document meant to prep for this possibility from a law firm:
www.ropesgray.com/-/media/File...

The indirect costs are real, and the money has to come from somewhere. Shortfalls are usually absorbed by the endowment. But this sudden hit has no viable solution for universities.

You can be sure that every university president is on the phone with their senators.
what remains to be seen is their appetite to stand against truly harmful executive actions.

This is grim news for biomedical research in the USA.