Storrs: Connecticut Announces $35 Million for UConn Research Hit by Federal Cuts

STORRS, CT — Gov. Ned Lamont, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and legislative leaders announced $35 million in state funding for UConn research during a press conference in the Science 1 building in Storrs. The funding is designated for research affected by federal cuts, with $21 million going to UConn and $14 million to UConn Health.

The announcement comes as federal research funding has become highly volatile since January 2025. UConn and UConn Health lost about $41 million from terminated or non-renewed grants and another $54 million in fewer new awards from fiscal year 2024 to 2025. According to the information released with the announcement, many fundable proposals also remain stalled at the National Science Foundation, National Institutes for Health and other agencies.

Subscribe

In announcing the funding, Lamont pointed to the state’s focus on advanced technology industries and the role UConn plays in that work. He said Connecticut makes advanced technology areas like bioscience, submarines and helicopters, and is now working to advance artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

“These are places where Connecticut has a real competitive advantage and we can’t do that without each and every one of you,” Lamont said, addressing dozens of UConn faculty members in attendance. “When I am talking about UConn, I’m talking about UConn the university and I’m talking about UConn Health as the center of our life sciences and innovations well, and making a difference as the world gets more complicated.”

UConn President Radenka Maric said the state investment comes at a critical time for university research. She tied the funding to research discovery, workforce retention and the state’s long-term economic position.

“Today’s announcement shows that the state of Connecticut is committed to enabling discovery, supporting economic resilience, retaining talent, and strengthening our state’s competitiveness in the 21st-century innovation economy,” said Maric. “We are tremendously grateful to Governor Lamont and to the General Assembly for their foresight and leadership on this critical issue. They demonstrate that Connecticut’s commitment to science and learning is not only theoretical, but back up with real investment.”

The funding announcement centered on stabilizing research activity at UConn and UConn Health as institutions deal with federal grant losses and delayed awards. No additional timeline or next procedural step was provided in the source material released with the event.