Report on the Termination of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grant and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Setbacks in Health and Equality Research

A critical research study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), focusing on birth outcomes in Black families, was abruptly terminated in the spring. The cancellation of the “LIFE-2” study, led by University of North Carolina Associate Professor Jaime Slaughter-Acey, represents a significant blow to advancing several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning health, gender equality, and reduced inequalities. The termination was justified by the NIH on the grounds that the study no longer aligned with agency priorities. This event occurred within a broader context of extensive NIH grant cancellations totaling over $4.4 billion under the Trump administration, jeopardizing scientific progress and the achievement of global development targets.

Impact on Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being

Addressing Critical Gaps in Maternal and Infant Health (SDG Target 3.1 & 3.2)

The “LIFE-2” study was designed to directly address the alarming disparities in maternal and infant mortality, a core focus of SDG 3. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that Black women are the only ethnic group not to see a decline in pregnancy-related deaths, with a mortality rate of 50.3 per 100,000 live births. The termination of research aimed at understanding and mitigating these outcomes directly undermines progress toward SDG Target 3.1 (reduce maternal mortality) and Target 3.2 (end preventable deaths of newborns).

The “LIFE-2” Study’s Innovative Approach

The research project was uniquely positioned to contribute to SDG 3 by investigating the complex interplay of social and biological factors affecting health outcomes. Its primary objectives included:

• To understand how social environments and systemic stressors accelerate biological aging in Black women, potentially leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
• To move beyond metrics of maternal survival and morbidity toward defining and understanding “maternal thriving.”
• To analyze a comprehensive dataset including biological samples, surveys on social determinants of health, and intergenerational data from mothers and grandmothers.

Implications for SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

Investigating Systemic Racism as a Health Determinant (SDG Target 10.2 & 10.3)

The study was the first of its kind to comprehensively examine how lifelong exposure to racism impacts health at a genetic level. By focusing on structural, cultural, and intergenerational racism, the research directly confronted the root causes of health disparities, aligning with SDG 10’s mission to reduce inequalities within and among countries.

Key Preliminary Findings Highlighting Inequities

Despite its premature termination, the study had already produced significant findings that underscore the deep-seated inequities affecting Black mothers, which are central to both SDG 5 and SDG 10. These findings include:

1. A correlation between adverse childhood experiences in mothers and subsequent conflict with the child’s father, highlighting the impact of past trauma on crucial social support systems during pregnancy.
2. A high prevalence of housing insecurity, with one in five participants experiencing it during pregnancy—a critical social determinant of health rarely documented in medical records.
3. The development of a new measurement tool to quantify racial microaggressions from healthcare providers and in daily life, providing data on experiences that contribute to a lack of support and negative health outcomes.

The cancellation of the grant is viewed by the lead researcher as an “erasure of black mothers and infants,” effectively silencing research that gives voice to the experiences of a marginalized group and halting efforts to achieve gender and racial equality in health outcomes.

Threats to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

Erosion of Institutional Integrity and Scientific Independence (SDG Target 16.6)

The termination of the “LIFE-2” grant and numerous others is cited as an example of political interference in science, which threatens the effectiveness and accountability of public institutions as called for in SDG 16. The cancellation of research on topics such as prenatal exposure to contaminants and cervical cancer in women of color suggests a pattern of de-prioritizing the health of vulnerable populations. This undermines the role of scientific bodies like the NIH as objective, evidence-based institutions.

Disruption of Research Partnerships and Future Outlook (SDG Target 17.17)

The project, a partnership between academic institutions and a federal funding agency, was destabilized by the funding withdrawal, leaving over $581,000 of its $2.4 million grant frozen. This action jeopardizes the multi-stakeholder partnerships that SDG 17 identifies as crucial for achieving development goals. While the research team has secured temporary, short-term funding from Michigan State University and is seeking private donations to continue its work, the future remains uncertain. The incident highlights the fragility of research initiatives in a climate of shifting political priorities and underscores the need for resilient and diverse funding partnerships to sustain progress on the SDGs.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article’s central theme is the high rate of maternal and infant mortality in the US, particularly the racial disparities affecting Black women. It discusses a study aimed at understanding and improving “birth outcomes” and reducing “pregnancy-related deaths.” The article explicitly mentions the goal of moving beyond “maternal survival” to “maternal thriving.”

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The article highlights the significant inequality in health outcomes based on race. It cites CDC data showing that “Black women were the only race or ethnic group who didn’t experience a decline in deaths from pregnancy related causes in 2023,” with a mortality rate of 50.3 per 100,000 live births compared to 14.5 for white people. The cancelled study was designed to examine how “structural, cultural and intergenerational racism” leads to these unequal outcomes.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• The issues discussed are specific to women’s health, focusing on maternal health for Black women. The article addresses the need for research that “reflects the full complexity of Black women’s experiences” and mentions the creation of a tool to measure “racial microaggressions from healthcare providers,” a form of discrimination against women of a specific race.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article details the weakening of key public health institutions. It reports that the Trump administration terminated numerous NIH grants, let go of a majority of staff at the CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health, and froze research grants at UCLA. This is described as “political interference in science,” which undermines the effectiveness and accountability of these institutions.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

1. Target 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.
2. Target 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

1. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
2. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

1. Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

1. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

For Target 3.1 (Reduce maternal mortality)

• Indicator: Maternal Mortality Ratio. The article explicitly provides this data: “Out of every 100,000 live births, 50.3 Black mothers died, compared with 14.5 deaths for white people, 12.4 for Latinos and 10.7 for Asians.”

For Target 3.2 (End preventable deaths of newborns)

• Indicator: Infant mortality and adverse birth outcomes. The article refers to the study’s focus on “infant mortality” and “adverse pregnancy outcomes for Black women,” which serve as direct measures for this target.

For Target 10.3 (Reduce inequalities of outcome)

• Indicator: Disparity in health outcomes by race. The stark difference in maternal mortality rates between Black women (50.3) and white women (14.5) is a direct indicator of unequal outcomes.
• Indicator: Prevalence of housing insecurity among pregnant women. The article notes that the study found “one in five study participants experienced housing insecurity during their pregnancy,” highlighting a structural inequity that affects health outcomes.

For Target 5.1 (End discrimination)

• Indicator: Measurement of racial microaggressions. The article states that the research team “created a tool to measure racial microaggressions from healthcare providers and in the mothers’ everyday life,” which is a direct, albeit non-standard, indicator of discrimination.

For Target 16.6 (Effective and accountable institutions)

• Indicator: Continuity of scientific research funding. The article points to the termination of “1,902 NIH grants totalling more than $4.4bn” and the freezing of nearly “$200m” in UCLA research grants as evidence of institutional disruption and lack of accountability.

Summary of Findings

Source: theguardian.com