Hearings before the House AppropriationsCommittee on whether to cut NIH funding in 1996begin next week, says Donald M. Ralbovsky, aspokesperson for the organization.

"Our feeling is that the work which is donehere in Bethesda and which is done in the grantinginstitutions speaks for itself," says Ralbovsky."However, as is the case with any Congressionalhearing, the Congressmen and Senators have theirquestions."

The Effects of Cuts

The more than $235 million in federallysponsored research awarded to Harvard last year ismore than double the amount of research fundingfrom foundations, corporations and other sourcescombined, according to a fact book published bythe Office of Budgets.

This total is more than the $201.6 million ofusable income generated by Harvard's $5.8 billionendowment last year.

A significant cut in funding might be difficultto absorb and would likely lead to a reduction inthe amount of research conducted, Glashow says.

"It means that we'll be able to train fewergraduate students, and that's bad news," he says.

Glashow says the NSF has already informedHarvard that it will cut money for theoreticalphysics research.

"The NSF is strapped for funds. It's cuttingback everywhere. Grants are being cut left andright everywhere," he says.

"Our cut for the next year is among thesmallest. The money is in short supply forresearch," he adds.

And Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics HowardGeorgi, who administers the NSF grant to whichGlashow refers, says Harvard will receive 10percent less than it requested.

"We've had to make some significant cuts," saysGeorgi. "We'll have to do without someadministrative personnel."

If more cuts come, graduate students may feelthe biggest hit, says Paul C. Martin '52, dean ofthe Division of Applied Sciences.

"We'd do what we can to support the gradstudents who are here, maybe by using them more asteaching fellows," he says. "But undoubtedly itwould lead to a reduction in the number we'dadmit."

More importantly, thesis anddissertation research are often supported almostentirely by federal grants, says Baird Professorof Science Gary J. Feldman.