The White House’s Cuts To Scientific Research Will Cut Short American Lives

Nearlyevery modernmedical treatmentcan be traced to research funded by the National Institutes of Health: from over-the-counter and prescription medications that treathigh cholesteroland painto protection from infectious diseases such aspolio and smallpox.

The remarkable successes of the decades-old partnership between biomedical research institutions and the federal government are so intertwined with daily life that it's easy to take them for granted.

However, the scientific work driving these medical advances and breakthroughsis in jeopardy. Federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation areterminating hundreds of active research grantsunder the current administration's direction. The administration has also proposed a dramatic reduction infederal support of the critical infrastructurethat keeps labs open and running. Numerous scientists and health professionals have noted that changes will havefar-reaching, harmful outcomesfor the health and well-beingof the American people.

The negative consequences of defunding U.S. biomedical research can bedifficult to recognize. Most breakthroughs, from the basic science discoveries that reveal the causes of diseases to the development of effective treatments and cures, can take years. Real-time progress can be hard to measure.

As biomedicalresearchers studyinginfectious diseases, viruses and immunology, we and our colleagues see this firsthand in our own work. Thousands of ongoing national and international projects dedicated to uncovering the causes of life-threatening diseases and developing new treatments to improve and save lives are supported by federal agencies such as the NIH and NSF.

Considering a few of the breakthroughs made possible through U.S. federal support can help illustrate not only the significant inroads biomedical research has made for preventing, treating and curing human maladies, but what all Americans stand to lose if the U.S. reduces its investment in these endeavors.

A cure for cancer

Thehope and dream of curing cancerunites many scientists, health professionals and affected families across the U.S. After decades ofongoing NIH-supported research, scientists have made significant progress in realizing this goal.

The National Cancer Institute of the NIH is theworld's largest funder of cancer research. This investment has led to advances in cancer treatment and prevention that helpedreduce the overall U.S. cancer death rate by 33%from 1991 to 2021.

Basic science research on what causes cancer has led to new strategies toharness a patient's own immune systemto eliminate tumors. For example, all 12 patients in a 2022 clinical trial testing one type of immunotherapy had theirrectal cancer completely disappear, without remission or adverse effects.

Another example of progress is the 2024 results of an ongoing clinical trial of a targeted therapy for lung cancer, showing an84% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death. Similarly, in a study of women who wereimmunized against the human papillomavirusat age 12 or 13, none developed the disease later. Since the widespread adoption of HPV vaccination,cervical cancer deaths have dropped 62%.

Despite these incredible successes, there is still a long way to go. In 2024,over 2 million peoplein the U.S. were estimated to be newly diagnosed with cancer, and 611,720 were expected to die from the disease.

Without sustained federal supportfor cancer research, progress toward curing cancer and reducing its death rate will stall.

Autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases

Nearly every family is touched in some way byautoimmune andneurodegenerative diseases. Government-funded research has enabled major advances to combat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

For example, approximately1 in 5 Americans have arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes joint swelling and stiffness. Aleading cause of disability and economic costsin the U.S., there is no cure for arthritis. But new drugs in development are able to significantlyimprove symptomsandslow or prevent disease progression.

Researchers are also gaining insight into what causes multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerves and can result in paralysis. Scientists recently found alink between multiple sclerosis and Epstein-Barr virus, a pathogen estimated toinfect over 90% of adultsaround the world. While multiple sclerosis is currently incurable, identifying its underlying cause can provide new avenues for prevention and treatment.

Alzheimer's disease causes irreversible nerve damage and is theleading cause of dementia. In 2024,6.9 million Americansages 65 and older were living with Alzheimer's. Most treatments address cognitive and behavioral symptoms. However, two new drugs developed with NIH-supported research and clinical trials were approved inJuly 2023andJuly 2024to treat early-stage Alzheimer's. Federal funding is also supporting the development ofblood tests for earlier detectionof the disease.

None of these breakthroughs are a cure. But they represent important steps forward on the path toward ultimately reducing or eliminating these devastating ailments. Lack of funding will slow or block further progress, leading to thecontinued rise of the incidence and severityof these conditions.

Infectious diseases and the next pandemic

The world's capacity to combat infectious disease will also be weakened by cuts to U.S. federal support of biomedical research.

Over the past 50 years, medical and public health advances have led to theeradication of smallpoxglobally and theelimination of polioin the U.S.HIV/AIDS, once a death sentence, is now a disease that can be managed with medication. Moreover, a new version of treatments called preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, offerscomplete protectionagainst HIV transmission when taken only twice per year.

Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the critical role biomedical research plays in responding to public health threats.Increased federal support of scienceduring this time allowed the United States to emerge with new drugs,vaccine platformswith the potential to treat a variety of chronic diseases, and insights on how to effectivelydetect and respond to pandemic threats.

Theongoing avian influenza outbreakand its spillover into Americandairy herdsandpoultry farmsis another pandemic threat looming on the horizon. Rather than build upon infrastructure foroutbreak surveillance and preparedness, grants that would allow scientists to better understand long COVID-19, vaccines and otherpandemic-related research are being cut. Decreased funding of biomedical research will hamper the U.S.'sability to respond to the next pandemic, putting everyone at risk.

Losses from defunding biomedical research

The National Institutes of Health contributedover $100 billionto support research that ultimately led to the development of all new drugs approved from 2010 to 2016 alone. Over 90% of this funding was for basic research into understanding the causes of disease that provides the foundation for new treatments.

Under thenew directiveto eliminate projects that support or useterms associated with diversity, equity and inclusion, the NIH and other federal agencies have made deep cuts to biomedical research that will directly affect patient lives.

Already,nearly 41% of Americans will be diagnosed with cancerat some point in their lifetime, andnearly 11% with Alzheimer's. About1 in 5 Americanswill die from heart disease, and nearly1.4 million will be rushed to an emergency roomdue to pneumonia from an infectious disease.

Defunding biomedical research will result in acascade of effects. There will likely be fewer clinical trials, fewer new treatments and fewer lifesaving drugs. Labs will likely shut down, jobs will be lost, and the process of discovery will stall. The U.S.'s health care system,economy and standingas theworld's leader in scientific innovationwill likely decline.

Moreover, when the pipelines of scientific progress are turned off, they willnot so easily be turned back on. These consequences willaffect all Americans and the rest of the world for decades.

University shortfalls directly resulting from cuts to research support will dramatically reduce the capacity of American institutions to educate and provide opportunitiesfor the next generation. Funding cuts have led to theshuttering or heavy reductionof training programs for future scientists.

Graduate students and postdoctoral trainees are thelifeblood of biomedical research. Supporting these young people committed to public service through research and health care is also an investment in medical advancements and public health. But theuncertainty and instabilityresulting from the divestment of federally funded programs will likely severely deplete the biomedical workforce, crippling the United States' ability to deliver future biomedical breakthroughs.

By cutting biomedical research funding, Americans and the rest of the world stand to lose new cures, new treatments and an entire generation of researchers.

Deborah Fuller is Professor of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Washington and Patrick Mitchell is Assistant Professor of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Washington. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.