Harvard pivots to private funding after federal grants slashed

In an effort to cope with the recent loss of federal funding, Harvard University has turned to the private sector for financial support in research initiatives. Despite being a private institution with a substantial endowment totaling $53.2 billion, Harvard has heavily relied on federal funds, securing approximately $686 million in the fiscal year 2024 alone. The Trump administration's significant cuts to Harvard's research grants have prompted this shift, notably affecting the T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where government funding accounted for nearly half of its budget. To counteract these challenges, the school has begun establishing connections with private investors, aiming to secure funding for ongoing research projects. One notable partnership has emerged with İş Private Equity, a Turkish-owned firm that committed nearly $39 million to support research on new antibodies for obesity and metabolic diseases, led by Professor Gökhan Hotamışlıgil. Hotamışlıgil, who has dedicated over two decades to studying the fatty-acid–binding protein FABP4, aims to mitigate adverse health effects associated with this protein through innovative antibody development. The collaboration with Enlila, a biotech startup formed by İş Private Equity, represents a potential model for securing research funding and promises to make significant strides in medical therapies. This transition to privatized funding may alleviate taxpayer burdens and foster an environment with greater potential for scientific advancements, as it could break away from the constraints imposed by government funding and peer review processes that often stifle novel ideas and findings. The Chan School of Public Health, under the guidance of Dean Andrea Baccarelli, is proactively seeking collaborations with alumni in the private sector to enhance its research capabilities amidst ongoing budget uncertainties.