July 5, 2025 Story by: Editor
National Institutes of Health (NIH) has abruptly decided to cancel a $750,000 grant supporting sickle cell disease research at Duke University. The move, justified by NIH officials as reinvesting in “scientific merit” over diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) objectives, disproportionately impacts a disease affecting nearly exclusively Black Americans.
The NIH Grant Terminations in 2025 table has tracked terminated grants from institutions nationwide upon directive from The White House. WRAL analyzed the data and found more than 2,500 grants have been terminated since February 2025, including approximately 80 from North Carolina universities.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects about 100,000 people in the United States, with more than 90% of patients being non-Hispanic Black or African American, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The move, justified by NIH officials as reinvesting in “scientific merit” over diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) objectives, disproportionately impacts a disease affecting nearly exclusively Black Americans—and has sparked allegations of racism and politicization in federal health funding.
Cutting the Grant: What Happened?
According to Dr. Charity Oyedeji, the Duke-based hematologist leading the project, the NIH notified her on June 16 that her K-Award grant, known as the “SickleFit” program, had been terminated. The NIH cited concerns that the study primarily served DEI goals and offered a “low return on investment” with language Dr. Oyedeji described as “non-scientific, very racist…really negative.”
The termination letter asserted that research based on “artificial and non‑scientific categories”—a likely veiled reference to DEI objectives—undermines scientific rigor and potentially supports unlawful race-based discrimination.
Patient Focus: Sickle Cell’s High Stakes
Sickle cell disease affects approximately 100,000 Americans, with over 90% identifying as non-Hispanic Black. The chronic condition causes painful episodes, strokes, pulmonary complications, and persistent organ damage. “Our pilot showed 50‑year‑olds functioned like 80‑year‑olds,” Dr. Oyedeji told NBC Washington.
The SickleFit program was designed to incorporate physical therapy to relieve pain, sometimes enabling patients to perform daily activities like standing from a seated position unaided. SickleFit shutdown is part of a sweeping wave of NIH funding cuts since February 2025. More than 2,500 grants—ranging from HIV prevention to health disparities—have been terminated.
NIH Response
The Department of Health and Human Services defended the decision via spokesman Andrew Nixon, stating the intent is to prioritize scientific merit rather than “ideologically driven DEI” initiatives. Notably, this move follows recent legal rulings deeming previous NIH grant cuts—many targeting DEI-related research—as discriminatory.
Source: NBC Washington / WRAL
