In a bold move to shield its research community from deep federal funding cuts, California lawmakers have proposed the creation of the California Institute for Scientific Research (CISR) — a state-level counterpart to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The bill, authored by State Senator Scott Wiener, is set for a hearing on Monday and seeks to maintain California’s global leadership in medical and scientific research. The proposal comes in response to the Biden administration’s latest budget blueprint, which slashes non-defence discretionary spending by 22.6% — a $163 billion reduction affecting science and health agencies the most.

California, which received over $5 billion in NIH grants in 2024, stands to lose significant research capacity. Top academic institutions like UCLA, Stanford, Caltech, and USC have warned of potential lab closures, layoffs, and halted clinical trials due to the funding crisis.

“We must step in to protect our scientific institutions from this anti-science onslaught,” said Senator Wiener, accusing the federal administration of trying to “Make America Sick Again” by gutting critical research programs.

Researchers across the state are already feeling the impact. UCLA neurobiologist Gina Poe said indirect lab funding could drop from $114,000 to almost zero, threatening her decades-long work on sleep and memory. Similarly, epidemiologist Beate Ritz warned that studies on pollution and neurodegenerative diseases might be terminated.

The proposed CISR would offer grants and loans to public and private research entities, enhance California’s vaccine development capacity, and ensure the continuity of breakthrough science despite federal setbacks.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta voiced full support for the initiative: “I will not allow the administration to jeopardise the extraordinary work being done by scientists and medical professionals in our state.”

With the federal government retreating from science funding, California’s effort to establish its own NIH-style body may mark a new chapter in state-led scientific innovation and resilience.