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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by John Dennehy, Professor of Biology at Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY)
4:01:41
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4 min
John Dennehy, a biology professor at Queens College (CUNY), testifies about his work in developing a wastewater COVID surveillance program and the recent cancellation of federal grants that supported CUNY research and student training programs. He highlights the negative impact of these cancellations on CUNY's research capabilities and the communities they serve.
- Dennehy secured $1.8 million from HHS and $1 million from NSF for wastewater epidemiology training programs, which were recently terminated.
- At least 30 CUNY grants totaling over $25 million in federal funds were rescinded without clear justification.
- The cancellations, combined with proposed funding cuts to federal agencies and reduced indirect cost rates, threaten CUNY's entire research enterprise.
John Dennehy
4:01:41
Thank you for the opportunity to speak.
4:01:43
I'm John Dennehyme, a professor of biology at Queens College, the City University of New York.
4:01:49
Our college model, we learn that we show that we may serve, had guided my actions during the COVID pandemic when as a virologist, I asked myself how can I serve my city in this time of great need?
4:02:02
My collaborators now developed a wastewater COVID surveillance program for the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
4:02:12
This program helped the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to keep track of COVID transmission surges in the city's community.
4:02:21
During this work, we discovered that these agencies faced critical personnel shortages in a central position.
4:02:30
I'd like to testify before the New York City City Council Committee On Environmental Protection in 2022.
4:02:39
During this hearing, members of the council repeatedly emphasized the importance of expanding capabilities and personnel training in the public health arena.
4:02:49
To address this challenge, I secured a $1,800,000 grant from The US In Health And Human Services with representative Grace Meng, Grace's support, to establish a CUNY wastewater epidemiology student training laboratory at Queens College.
4:03:06
We also obtained 1,000,000 from the National Science Foundation to create a wastewater epidemiology student training program helping STEM students transition from Queensborough and LaGuardia Community Colleges to Queen's College.
4:03:22
In the one year that this program ran, we trained and mentored over 30 community college students, and many of those are now transferring to Queens College.
4:03:31
They would have spent the summer doing research and attending a DNA Learning Center sponsored boot camp at City Tech.
4:03:43
Tragically, on May second of this year, the NSF terminated this grant without possibility of appeal, claiming it no longer aligned with current NSF priorities.
4:03:54
I believe the true reason was that we proposed training students from financially disadvantaged and underserved communities for high positions in the city agency.
4:04:05
Ours wasn't the only CUNY grant canceled.
4:04:10
At least 30 grants totaling over 25,000,000 in federal funds, all reviewed and allocated by leading US Scientists with congressional backing were rescinded through terse email providing no clear justification.
4:04:26
And the process had been so chaotic, we're still trying to establish exactly how many grants have been terminated.
4:04:34
Many of these grant funded student training programs that directly benefited the citizens of this city.
4:04:40
These widespread grant terminations combined with the proposed funding cuts to NIH, NSF, NOAA, NEAA, the USDA, and other federal agencies to move to reduce the indirect cost rate that allows colleges to support faculty research.
4:05:00
It proposed now roughly about 50% of every federal dollar that comes to the colleges is being cut to 15%.
4:05:09
And this essentially threatened the entire CUNY research enterprise with extinction.
4:05:16
There's no way the colleges can continue to support faculty research in this environment.
4:05:23
These cancellations represent more than just lost funding.
4:05:26
Are direct attack on the health and well-being of all city residents, particularly those in underserved communities who would benefit most from these programs.
4:05:36
CUNY has always stood as a beacon of opportunity and public service in New York City.
4:05:41
We now need your vocal advocacy, your political engagement, and your unwavering support to continue our vital mission of serving the residents of this city through education and essential public health infrastructure.
4:05:55
Thank you very much.
4:05:57
Thank you.