An analysis reported by STAT says NIH issued 60,924 grant awards in fiscal year 2026 through September 24—its lowest level in six years at the same point in the fiscal calendar. The gap is about 11% below the five-year average by that date, while total obligations remain roughly 1% above the five-year norm. Grant Witness and STAT point to a shift toward multiyear funding commitments as a key reason the number of awards declined even when funding levels are steadier. The reporting also notes that NIH retrospectively changes data in ExPORTER datasets, meaning the count could tick upward as FY2026 accounting finalizes. The funding backdrop is significant for biotech-affiliated research institutions and early translational programs because award-count slowdowns can reduce bandwidth for preclinical work, recruiting, and grant-dependent collaboration pipelines.