The impact of federal funding on HSDM’s research
Harvard School of Dental Medicine’s longstanding commitment to research and scientific discovery dates back more than a century. Funding to support research at HSDM began with an early philanthropic gift from Harriet Newell Lowell in 1901 and continues to this day with nearly $9 million in federally funded research and 61 active projects. HSDM stands out among dental schools for its research strengths and a curriculum that emphasizes the foundational importance of research in predoctoral and postdoctoral training. In January, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced plans to impose deep cuts to an important source of research funding known as indirect costs. By April, the federal government froze $2 billion in research funding to Harvard.
“For three-quarters of a century, the federal government has awarded grants and contracts to Harvard and other universities to help pay for work that, along with investments by the universities themselves, has led to groundbreaking innovations across a wide range of medical, engineering, and scientific fields. These innovations have made countless people in our country and throughout the world healthier and safer,” President Alan Garber said in a statement on April 14. “For the government to retreat from these partnerships now risks not only the health and well-being of millions of individuals but also the economic security and vitality of our nation.”
$2B
in research funding frozen across Harvard
$9M
in annual research funding frozen at HSDM
16%
of HSDM’s annual budget depends on research
Harvard’s Vice Provost for Research John Shaw described the longtime partnership between universities and the federal government, “It’s a partnership that is the envy of the world—one that’s driven scientific progress, economic growth, and American leadership in innovation and discovery. The relationship is built around the recognition of the importance of fundamental research in driving scientific discovery,” he said in an interview with the Harvard Gazette.
“At HSDM, our researchers are working on basic, translational, and global health research studies that advance dental medicine and generate breakthroughs that exemplify science in service of humanity, said Dean William Giannobile. “With federal funding support, HSDM researchers have advanced our understanding of oral diseases, craniofacial biology, and inflammatory diseases, nutrition and oral health, study of rare bone diseases and facial anomalies.”
Research funding makes up 16 percent of HSDM’s operating budget and enables the study of infectious disease, functional genomics, craniofacial and bone biology, stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, molecular and mucosal immunology, bioinformatics, tissue engineering, cellular, molecular and developmental biology, human genetics, and population health.
A HSDM researcher who studies rare genetic conditions underscored the importance of federal funding to finding potential cures. “We are extremely grateful for NIH funding, as it is critical and essential for conducting mechanistic investigations of rare genetic diseases. This research lays the foundation for diagnosing, preventing, and developing treatments,” she said. “Potential cuts could compromise research infrastructure and training, potentially deterring talented students from pursuing research careers.”
A recent report from the nonprofit organization United for Medical Research shows that every dollar of research funded by the NIH delivers $2.56 in economic activity, a multiplier effect that extends the agency’s impact as the largest public funder of biomedical research. The report found that in 2024 all 50 states benefited by the creation of 408,000 jobs nationwide and over $94.5 billion in new economic activity.
“In addition to slowing medical progress, these drastic cuts will mean job losses and real economic pain at the state and local levels,” said Christopher Fox, DMD87, DMSc91, Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research.
“I am deeply appreciative of the HSDM educational model, where research experiences are thoroughly integrated into the curriculum,” said Fox. “It taught me early on that research can’t be separate from patient care for any length of time. At best, we will stall health improvements; at worst, we will devolve into clinical practices that cause harm. It’s why I take any cuts to medical and dental research so seriously.”
Sustaining a legacy of discovery
As federal funding faces uncertainty, private philanthropy plays an increasingly vital role in sustaining groundbreaking research at HSDM. Your gift helps protect the pipeline of innovation that improves health and changes lives.
