After facing a lengthy blockade from the Trump administration, a key component of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) biomedical research funding process is set to be largely reinstated. However, this development does not appear to facilitate the immediate approval of new grants, which would resume the influx of substantial funding to academic institutions and medical schools.

Numerous NIH review committees—panel gatherings where expert scientists evaluate potential research projects for agency support—have been unexpectedly canceled in recent weeks. This was a result of the Trump administration’s directive that restricted the NIH from publishing new notices in the Federal Register, part of a wider communication freeze affecting various health agencies. Under federal law, announcements for these review meetings are required to be posted at least 15 days in advance in the Federal Register. Without such notices, the meetings cannot take place.

On Monday, staff members within the NIH’s Office of the Director were informed that they can once again issue Federal Register announcements for review panels managed by the Center for Scientific Review—the body responsible for most significant academic research grants, as well as fellowships and small business grants. However, it appears that notifications for meetings of advisory councils, which conduct further evaluations and provide final funding recommendations, will continue to be restricted.