Gov. Ned Lamont’s recent allocation of $35 million from the Federal Cuts Response Fund is a vital step toward safeguarding economic growth and scientific innovation. This critical investment in the University of Connecticut and UConn Health demonstrates the true power of collective action.
By uniting our union, elected officials, and university administration behind a shared vision, we have secured a victory that will benefit students, patients and businesses across the state.
This allocation comes at a turning point. Over the past 15 months, historic instability in federal research funding has triggered a staggering 22% drop in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant awards , with projections for the remainder of 2026 showing an 80% decline in new grants. At UConn and UConn Health, these cuts have already inflicted a $95 million blow , jeopardizing the futures of 2,600 students, trainees, and faculty members.
Recognizing the gravity of this crisis, our union spearheaded the push for state leaders to step in and bridge this massive fiscal gap. In March, we testified before the General Assembly’s Higher Education and Advancement Committee to champion a bill defending our state’s research under siege. We called on lawmakers to “invest in our research community, make Connecticut a leader in defending all areas of research, and protect the integrity of scientific inquiry.”
Within a week, the committee moved swiftly, embracing state support for a broader $50 million research fund.
The state’s current $35 million commitment does more than just keep research jobs in Connecticut. It sends a clear message that we value scientific inquiry free from political interference. This funding acts as a shield for vital fields targeted by federal rollbacks, including health equity, racial disparities, vaccine safety, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and reproductive health. These are not abstract concepts; this research directly impacts the daily lives of our patients, students, neighbors, and families.
However, a one-time stopgap cannot be the end of the road. We hope Lamont’s announcement marks the beginning of a sustained, long-term effort to fully fund public higher education. Even with this funding, our students and colleagues continue to brace for future shortfalls —not just from Washington, but from Hartford, too .
Despite having the fiscal resources to weather these storms, Connecticut’s past policy decisions continue to stifle our own growth.
Rigid fiscal roadblocks enacted during the Great Recession continue to limit us. Strictly capping growth and diverting revenues away from active public services has prevented record surpluses from being reinvested into instruction, research, and patient care. This diminishes real-term operational support and forces unnecessary tuition hikes on our students.
We should look to our neighbors for inspiration on the next steps. Last year, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey launched the DRIVE initiative , proposing a robust $400 million research fund to ensure the Bay State remains a competitive powerhouse for science and innovation despite federal headwinds. Connecticut can, and should, match that level of ambition.
Sustained investment in UConn and UConn Health ensures that students finish their degrees, labs stay open, and life-saving scientific discoveries continue to fuel our local economy. Every single dollar the state invests in university research yields nearly $2 in economic output. In FY 2024, nearly $800 million in NIH grant expenditures supported 6,831 jobs and generated $1.78 billion in commercial activity in Connecticut.
We expect the governor and the state legislature to build boldly on this $35 million foundation. By fully funding the shared mission of UConn and UConn Health, our leaders can empower us to provide world-class higher education, exceptional clinical care, and the cutting-edge research Connecticut deserves.
Ion Moraru, MD, PhD; Neena Qasba MD, and Mark Maciejewski, PhD are President, Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer, respectively, of the UCHC-AAUP, AFT Local 6747 .
