STAT interviewed 30 researchers who describe the scientific and personal impact of federal grant cuts. In the first nine months of 2024, NIH funded 406 high-risk, high-reward grants, dropping to 364 in 2025. The number of NIH grants awarded from January through the end of the fiscal year was down 11.6% from last year and 8.2% from the previous nine-year average. The number of grants to early-stage researchers has hit its lowest point since 2016. The success rate of early-stage researchers in receiving major R01 grants fell from 29.8% in FY2023 to 18.5% in FY2025. The cuts affected research into vaccines, health disparities, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and HIV/AIDS. NSF has closed more than 1,600 grants worth $1.5 billion since April. Researchers expressed concern about the future of their projects and careers.