TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - Florida A&M University’s pharmacy school recently lost over $16 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

In a letter dated March 21 from NIH to FAMU, the university learned that the $16.3 million NIH grant approved for its College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences was being terminated due to NIH’s policy of not prioritizing research programs based on “artificial and non-scientific categories.”

Specifically, the NIH wrote in the letter to FAMU:

“This award no longer effectuates agency priorities. Research programs based primarily on artificial and non-scientific categories, including amorphous equity objectives, are antithetical to the scientific inquiry, do nothing to expand our knowledge of living systems, provide low returns on investment, and ultimately do not enhance health, lengthen life, or reduce illness. Worse, socalled diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) studies are often used to support unlawful discrimination on the basis of race and other protected characteristics, which harms the health of Americans. Therefore, it is the policy of NIH not to prioritize such research programs."

The grant’s termination comes amid recent federal spending cuts and the dismantling of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.

NIH’s letter goes on to say that the university can challenge the decision with the appropriate documents and information.

FAMU Interim President Timothy Beard said the plan is to do just that.

Beard said the university is in the process of appealing the decision as the grant was awarded to support new faculty hires and enhanced research in key areas such as cancer biology, artificial intelligence and bioinformatics.

“For nearly 40 years, faculty and graduate students have relied on this center to conduct biomedical and health research,” Beard said. “The program is a critical contributor to the University’s ability to produce 60% of the nation’s Ph.D. graduates in pharmaceutical sciences from various backgrounds.”

More Tallahassee news:

Pharmacy student Aleyah Greer said she was shocked and disappointed that the funds are being pulled from their school.

“We don’t even have as much resources... I just feel bad for the incoming class, they’re going to be able to lose what we had,” Greer said.

Grant Foss, another student, shared his reaction to the news.

“My first thought was ‘wow that’s a lot of money’ and I figured it’s probably going to be a really hard hit for the school,” Foss said. “It might impact us, one the faculty and two the resources we have available now,” Foss said.

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