Faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham say some administrators are restricting efforts to research the health of minority populations.

According to a draft letter circulated among faculty and reviewed by AL.com, UAB lawyers and staff are editing and recommending changes to grant proposals in ways that “dilute, obscure, or diminish the scientific or medical objective.” They say faculty are being discouraged from studying medical conditions that impact certain racial and ethnic groups.

“They have cut text and in some instances, deleted citations of the literature, or discouraged initiation of the research. Drafters of this letter have seen several examples. It can be construed as censorship,” the writers said.

The letter was addressed to Natalie Gassman, the head of UAB’s Faculty Senate, and UAB’s Vice President for Research, Christopher Brown. It cited recent actions by the school’s Office of Sponsored Programs, which provides support for projects with external funding. The names of nearly 200 people who appeared to be faculty and staff were attached.

American universities are being tested by President Donald Trump’s administration, which took aim at university diversity programs in a public letter in February.

Alabama universities are working to comply with federal and state directives. In recent weeks, UAB has ended scholarships benefiting minority students and returned related donations to private donors.

A spokesperson for UAB told AL.com Thursday the school is assessing developments at the state and federal level and will respect academic freedom and the law.

“UAB is committed to understanding and improving the human experience, enriching society and improving health and well-being for all,” they said.

UAB recently edited words out of grant proposals focused on race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, national orientation or gender identity, according to the letter.

“To exclude health risks or health service concerns of any protected group from research is ethically problematic,” the faculty wrote.

Research on groups with unique, inherited conditions such as Ashkenazi Jews, Dutch Amish, West African or Cajun people, is threatened, the faculty said. Efforts to study maternal mortality among Black women or disease transmission among groups with certain sexual practices are other examples of at-risk subjects listed.

The faculty say UAB’s actions are in violation of the law and undermine academic freedom. The group urged UAB’s administration to issue a formal policy for grant applications that explains how research can be conducted.

“We hope the contents of this letter not only describe our concerns about current practices at UAB, but more importantly help develop policies that promote our continued success as an outstanding academic institution,” they stated.

Numerous signers declined a request to comment to AL.com

UAB is also one school in the state that has lost federal funding for some research initiatives.