Federal Policy Changes and Career Stability Among NIH K-Award Recipients

Importance: Federal policy changes, including restrictions on research topics and proposed National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget reductions, may affect perceptions of career stability among early-career biomedical researchers. Objective: To evaluate how NIH K awardees perceive the effects of federal policy on research career stability and intentions to pursue independent NIH funding. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this cross-sectional survey study, an anonymous online national survey was administered from April 15 to May 27, 2025, via REDCap using contact information from the NIH RePORTER database. All principal investigators were holding individual mentored K awards initially funded between 2019 and 2025. Data were analyzed from June 11, 2025, to February 11, 2026. Exposure: Self-reported perceptions of recent federal policy changes affecting research funding and institutional support. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was perceived likelihood of remaining in science and significant funding disruptions measured via an online national survey. Secondary outcomes included perceived institutional support and the likelihood of applying for R01-equivalent funding. Results: Of 6118 K award recipients, 1904 respondents representing all NIH institutes completed the survey (adjusted response rate, 34%); 1230 (65%) identified as women and 366 (19%) identified as underrepresented in biomedical research by race, ethnicity, or disability. A total of 1819 (96%) reported that federal policy changes negatively affected the stability of their research careers. Compared with 1 year prior, 988 (52%) believed they were somewhat less likely and 341 (18%) much less likely to continue conducting research. Significant funding disruptions were reported by 343 (18%). Postdoctoral researchers were more likely than associate professors to report being much less likely to stay in science (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.57; 95% CI, 1.35-4.88; P < .001). Respondents identifying as disabled (aOR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.38-3.54; P < .001), American Indian or Alaska Native (aOR, 5.32; 95% CI, 1.01-28; P = .048), Black (aOR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.52-4.05; P < .001), or Hispanic (aOR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.78-3.98; P < .001) were more likely to report significant funding disruptions. A total of 506 respondents (27%) reported high institutional support; 523 of 1338 (39%) who had not yet applied for an R01 reported decreased likelihood of doing so. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cross-sectional survey study of NIH K-award recipients, nearly all respondents reported a decrease in career stability, and many reported reduced intent to pursue independent NIH funding amid federal policy shifts. These findings indicate widespread perceived instability among early-career NIH-funded investigators.