Do you, or someone you know, have high blood pressure, diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease or cancer? Do you or someone you know take any medications? It took a great amount of research to understand any of those illnesses and what medications will help in their treatment. Part of the current administrations cuts to funding include medical research by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The National Institute for Health’s mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.(NIH.gov) “We cannot lose sight of what the NIH has achieved over the years. Its expertise in basic research has led to more than 100 Nobel prizes, allowing scientist to understand how viruses can cause cancer, and led to the development of open-heart surgery, artificial skin, cholesterol-lowering statins and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), among many other transformative advances. The NIH is foundational to medical advances in U.S. health care. NIH research laid the groundwork for mRNA vaccines and was critical in our fight against COVID-19. The NIH also has played a vital role in research and advancement of GLP-1 agonists, cancer immunotherapy and countless other evidence-based therapeutics that improve patient outcomes. With a long track record of high-risk, high-reward scientific discoveries and achievements, the NIH has earned its reputation as the crown jewel of U.S. medical science.” (American Medical Association President, Bobby Mukkamala, MD)
Partners in Health, a global health and social justice organization that responds to the moral imperative to provide high-quality health care globally to those who need it most, states, “ All the health care services we receive today are the result of efforts—over several decades—by researchers determined to make the world healthier. This research has been a major factor in human life expectancy rates jumping from around 40 years in the early 19th century to 72 years in 2020.”
And yet George Washington University reports that the budget for the NIH has been cut by 40% and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) will see a 50% reduction in funding in the 2026 budget, “putting the backbone of America’s public health system at risk.” We cannot continue to let our government slash the budget at the expense of our health. Speak up to your elected officials. Share your story if you have survived a medical situation due to outstanding medical research.
Medical research may save your life or the life of someone you love.
