Federal funding cuts under the Trump administration have disrupted a critical study on Alzheimer’s disease risk among 600 aging individuals in Pittsburgh, potentially delaying diagnosis for participants. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) canceled a research grant in August, giving researchers 90 days to shut down the study—more than five months earlier than planned. Although researchers have already collected all the data, they now lack both the time and financial resources to analyze it. Over the past two years, the Trump administration canceled, froze, or otherwise disrupted more than 5,700 medical research grants, according to Grant Witness, though more than 4,500 have since been restored. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the cancellation of clinical trials alone impacted more than 74,000 participants nationwide, affecting a wide range of research areas, including childhood hearing loss and pain during cesarean delivery. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are named plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit against the NIH, arguing that the administration is attempting to censor research whose conclusions it disfavors. The study, led by Tamara Dubowitz and Andrea Rosso, examined how the built and social environments of neighborhoods may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease risk, focusing on historically red-lined areas in Pittsburgh. Black Americans are twice as likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s compared to white Americans but are underrepresented in such studies. Of more than 12,000 brain imaging studies on Alzheimer’s, only around 700 report race, with more than 87% of those reporting race being white participants. The Trump administration has argued that the grant "no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities" and that "the lack of concrete, objective, and measurable variables is not in alignment with NIH’s priorities related to 'promoting research focused on scientifically valid measurable health outcomes.'" The University of Pittsburgh and researchers are appealing the grant cancellation, stating they believe the appeals are supported by a strong legal foundation and will present their position through the appropriate channels. Researchers argue that the administration has poorly defined its view of "DEI," or diversity, equity, and inclusion, conflating the term with health equity. Experts have warned that grant cancellations could have life-or-death consequences, particularly in areas of research addressing the needs of underserved populations. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is critical, as there is no cure, and treatments to slow its progression are best used early in the disease course. Roderick Blair, a 70-year-old trial participant, described the grant cancellation as a "clear" form of retribution for examining links between the health of Black Americans and structural racism. The study was designed to assess cognitive decline over 18 months to two years, with participants taking lengthy cognitive tests. At the time the grant was cut, researchers had just finished data collection and were preparing for an adjudication of cognitive status, a process requiring in-demand experts such as neuropsychologists and geriatric psychiatrists. The federal government has invested more than $10 million into the study over five years. Researchers had hoped for a one-year, no-cost extension, as funds were frozen for months during the research due to DEI-related upheaval. The University of Pittsburgh is in the process of submitting appeals to the NIH regarding the agency’s recent termination of these awards. Legal experts suggest the targeted cancellations may be test cases for making cancellations stick in court, as the administration seeks to move the entire $1 trillion federal grant-making apparatus under the control of political appointees.