The University of Toronto (U of T) has established an emergency fund to aid its researchers experiencing unexpected funding cuts from U.S. federal research agencies due to policy changes. U of T’s vice-president of research, innovation, and strategic initiatives, Leah Cowen, stated that the fund aims to maintain research momentum amid uncertainty caused by significant cuts to agencies like the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation under U.S. President Donald Trump.
U of T, known for its intensive research programs and top-ranked status in Canada, heavily relies on global collaborations for research initiatives. The university typically receives around $20 million annually from U.S. federal research agencies, a fraction of its total research budget. However, the sudden loss of this funding has had severe repercussions on affected researchers.
One affected researcher is medical biophysics professor Paul Fraser, collaborating with institutions in the U.S. on Alzheimer’s disease therapy. After his NIH funding ceased due to policy changes, U of T’s support became crucial for sustaining his project while seeking alternative funding sources from Canadian agencies like the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
Fraser highlighted the challenge of maintaining a research team’s expertise and continuity in the face of funding disruptions, emphasizing the irreplaceable nature of specialized researchers once lost. He stressed the importance of finding replacement funds to sustain ongoing projects and collaborative efforts.
Cowen clarified that the emergency fund is not intended to supplant U.S. federal funding but to provide temporary relief while encouraging continued Canadian investment in research collaboration. The Coalition of Canadian Research recently urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to uphold last year’s research funding commitments, underscoring the critical role of research in driving economic productivity and addressing global challenges.
Despite concerns about potential budget cuts in the upcoming Nov. 4 budget, Cowen remains optimistic about the government’s understanding of the significance of Canada’s research and innovation ecosystem in addressing national and global challenges. The Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to requests for comments at the time of reporting.