A Step in the Right Direction: American College of Rheumatology and Rheumatology Research Foundation Welcome Protection For Independent Scientific Review
ATLANTA – The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the Rheumatology Research Foundation (RRF) today commended news reports that the Trump Administration will be stepping back from plans that would have introduced political oversight into grant-making decisions at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal research agencies.
Earlier this year, the ACR expressed concerns to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), noting changes would undermine the independence, rigor, and predictability of the nation’s scientific enterprise. The proposed policy would have allowed political appointees to override established peer-review processes and scientific assessments when determining which research proposals receive federal support. Read ACR letter to the OMB
“Federal research funding must be guided by scientific merit, rigorous peer review, and the public interest – not political considerations,” said William F. Harvey, MD, MSc, FACR, president of the ACR. “The Administration’s movement away from proposed changes to the grant-making process represents a step in the right direction. Protecting independent scientific review is essential to sustaining the discoveries that improve patient care, advance understanding of rheumatic diseases, and strengthen the health of communities across the country.”
The organizations emphasized that allowing political appointees to overrule expert scientific evaluation would have created uncertainty for researchers and institutions, discouraged high-impact research and weakened the United States’ standing as a global leader in scientific discovery.
“America’s research leadership depends on a merit-based grant-review system in which the strongest ideas are evaluated by qualified experts using transparent, evidence-based standards. Scientific excellence—not political preference—must remain the foundation of federal research investment,” said Bryce Binstadt, MD, PhD, president of the RRF.
NIH-supported research is a vital source of progress in preventing, diagnosing, and treating rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. Preserving independent, expert-led grant review is critical to ensuring researchers can pursue the discoveries that will improve quality of life for people living with arthritis, autoimmune conditions, and other rheumatic diseases.
“Deciding not to move forward with this policy is the right thing to do for patients, researchers, and the country,” said Dr. Harvey. “Rheumatologists’ ability to address arthritis, lupus, vasculitis, and other serious rheumatic diseases depend on a research ecosystem in which evidence and scientific expertise guide funding decisions.”
“Safeguarding peer review is an investment in the future of rheumatology research,” said Dr. Binstadt. “It preserves the conditions researchers need to pursue transformative questions, develop the next generation of scientific leaders, and deliver innovations that improve the lives of people with rheumatic diseases.”
The ACR and RRF reaffirmed their commitment to working with policymakers across the political spectrum to protect the integrity of the federal research enterprise and to ensure that the United States continues to lead the world in scientific and medical discovery.
Media Contact
Teri Arnold
Director, Public Relations & Communications
757-272-7002
tarnold@rheumatology.org
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About the American College of Rheumatology
Founded in 1934, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is a not-for-profit, professional association committed to advancing the specialty of rheumatology that serves nearly 10,500 physicians, health professionals, researchers and scientists worldwide. In doing so, the ACR offers education, research, advocacy and practice management support to help its members continue their innovative work and provide quality patient care. Rheumatology professionals are experts in the diagnosis, management and treatment of more than 100 different types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases.