States Race to Build Their Own Research Funding as NIH Shifts Priorities
February 26, 2026 · 2 min read
Arthur Griffin
A new model for funding American science is emerging at the state level, as legislatures from New York to Massachusetts move to backstop research institutions rattled by shifting NIH priorities, STAT News reported on February 20.
The trigger: NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya's repeated statements that he aims to spread funding across the country, combined with the agency's decision to deny renewals for grants deemed related to DEI. Together, these moves have prompted top-recipient states to hedge against what they see as a structural shift in federal research dollars.
New York's $6 Billion Proposal
New York — the second-largest recipient of NIH funding, with $2.8 billion in grants terminated in 2025 — has proposed the Empire Biomedical Research Institute (EBRI), a $6 billion state initiative. The proposal would fund early-stage research, workforce development, and technology commercialization across upstate, downstate, and Long Island institutions.
Governor Hochul has endorsed a related but smaller "Bolstering Biotech Initiative" rather than the full EBRI proposal. The final scope remains under legislative negotiation.
Other States Watching Closely
Massachusetts, California, and other states that rank among the top NIH recipients are exploring similar mechanisms, according to The Boston Globe. The common thread: states are designing R01-style funding for large projects, training programs, and cross-institutional collaboration — mirroring the NIH grant structure at the state level.
What This Means for Grant Seekers
Researchers at institutions in top-recipient states should track these legislative proposals closely. State-level programs could create new funding streams with different review criteria, shorter timelines, and less competition than federal grants. For investigators whose NIH renewals were denied or delayed, state programs may offer a bridge.
The emerging patchwork of state research funding adds complexity but also opportunity — exactly the kind of shifting landscape where tools like Granted can help researchers spot new openings before they become crowded.