Ensuring the long-term sustainability of the world’s key biodata resources is central to the mission of the Global Biodata Coalition. These resources are vital to the global life sciences research ecosystem, enabling discovery, innovation, and collaboration across borders. However, their sustainability depends on a stable and resilient funding environment — something that, increasingly, cannot be taken for granted.
Currently, some 32 of the 52 Global Core Biodata Resources (GCBRs) designated by the GBC receive funding from US federal funding agencies, and we estimate that for 26 GCBRs, this is their primary or critical funding source. Recent changes in US policy that impact these funding streams now present immediate and urgent challenges for many of the GCBRs, in certain cases threatening their continued existence. While the motivations behind these changes lie within national policy decisions, their effects are felt globally. Such is the complex web of international data flows, collaborations and co-dependencies amongst the GCBR set and the wider biodata infrastructure, that it is likely that many GCBRs not directly supported by US federal agencies could also be severely affected by any funding cuts to federally funded resources, causing knock-on impacts for researchers worldwide.
National science funding policy is the business of nations and, rightly, each will increase or reduce financial support for biodata infrastructure according to their national priorities. A biodata infrastructure operated and used globally must expect that, over time, there will be such policy changes. However, smooth and continuous operation of the infrastructure requires a consistent funding environment that is neither sensitive to, nor overly reliant upon, any single funding source.
Concerns shared with us by GCBRs at a recent meeting of the managers of these resources made clear the scale and immediacy of the negative impacts being faced by more than half of the represented resources as a direct result of recent changes in US federal life science funding policies. Many GCBRs rely heavily on US funding streams and new restrictions, particularly those affecting sub-awards to overseas partners, are already disrupting international collaborations and causing institutional uncertainty. Several GCBRs are reporting that changes will apply from 1 July 2025, leaving little time to adapt. These challenges compound longstanding difficulties in demonstrating the full impact and value of open biodata resources, which often struggle to track data usage in ways that resonate with funders or policymakers.
Already, some GCBRs have been taking action to try to prop up their resources in the face of funding cuts, including, for example, by launching international emergency fundraising campaigns—requesting voluntary contributions and user‑fees, including dedicated mechanisms for European and US labs to donate, and temporarily freezing database updates, in an attempt to survive. Other data resources are exploring a range of measures, including diversifying their funding base through partnerships with industry, charging for training services, and seeking contributions from commercial data users. In parallel, many are working to strengthen their advocacy efforts to better demonstrate their global scientific impact, in an effort to attract support from new funders and philanthropic organisations. While some are adopting a “wait and see” approach, whilst preparing for a worst-case scenario. In addition, various attempts are being made, by groups around the world, to identify, copy, and protect what are felt to be key at-risk datasets.
It is important to note that these risks are illustrative of the wider vulnerability of biodata resources under the existing funding model for global biodata infrastructure — a model that depends heavily on a small number of major national funders. This is not sustainable and the GBC’s strategic focus remains on building a diversified and resilient funding base for biodata resources, one that does not run the risk of a single point of failure.
Work is already underway within the GBC to build a more granular picture of the funding situation for GCBRs, documenting the specific challenges they face, and their potential mitigation strategies. As part of our commitment to facilitating greater visibility for GCBRs and helping them to articulate their impact and value to the wider community, we will present this important evidence base to the GBC’s member funders to characterise the problems of the current funding landscape.
We undertake to continue to support and strengthen connections between GCBRs, funders, and other stakeholders, using our best efforts to ensure that these vital resources can continue to serve the global scientific community — and society — for the long term.
Please support us by signing our Open Letter that calls on leaders, policy‑makers, and funders worldwide to commit to sustainable, long-term support for the global biodata infrastructure. See the Open Letter page.