Issue Brief: Expenses Crucial for Biomedical Research – Indirect Costs

July 21, 2025

While indirect research costs are integral to the long-term sustainability of biomedical research institutions across the United States, many Americans do not fully understand what they entail. Proposals from the new presidential administration threaten federal funding for universities and clinical research hospitals, jeopardizing innovation in the biomedical research field. This Issue Brief analyzes the importance of indirect costs, their connection to the public research sector pipeline, and what would be at stake as a result of new proposals that would cap indirect funding.