Cancer researchers and academic institutions are facing increasing anxiety over potential cuts and delays to NIH funding, particularly under the current administration. Proposed changes to funding rules have raised concerns about how they may affect research grants for critical areas, including cancer and various diseases. The NIH is struggling with a freeze on grant reviews, which has left many programs in limbo, raising fears of significant economic impacts for college towns reliant on research funding. As discussions unfold, leaders in academia and biotech are warning that cuts to NIH could not only undermine scientific progress but also jeopardize patient care and long-term health outcomes.