Grant Witness analysis and NIH data indicate the agency issued 60,924 grant awards by September 24 of fiscal year 2026—its lowest total in six fiscal years at the same point in the calendar. The count is about 11% below the 2021–2025 average, even as total obligations remain roughly level with prior year benchmarks. The discrepancy reflects a shift toward multiyear funding commitments that reduce the number of discrete awards while sustaining dollar obligations. Grant Witness notes NIH retrospectively changes data in ExPORTER datasets due to wrap-up accounting, which could still move the final award totals. For biotech and academic research ecosystems, fewer awards can translate into tighter access to research capacity—particularly affecting early-stage projects that rely on annual competition cycles.