help perpetuate

[alla]

Is the meaning of "help perpetuate" positive or negative
in the following context :

The relatively low prevalence of NIH grants for anasthesiologists limits opportunities for anesthesiologist / scientists to have the time away from clinical duties to allow pursuit of clinical interests, thus helping perpetuate reduced research activities.

stimulate or maintain the reduced amount?

[susiedqq]

MEANS:

thus contributing to the on-going problem of reduced research opportunities.