The breakthroughs of tomorrow are being built on the research of today. Throughout history, innovation has driven progress. Humanity has strived to bridge the gap for a better future, but in light of recent executive orders, that bridge has been set aflame. In an attempt to make the rich even richer, the future of science is being sabotaged. Laboratories that are researching groundbreaking concepts, students pursuing change and the future of medicine are all being pushed aside by the very leaders who are supposed to pursue progress, not chase comfort in the form of financial greed.
The Trump administration has recently cut research funding from The National Institutes of Health (NIH) significantly. More specifically, indirect research grants, which are used to support a range of essential functions crucial to maintaining a laboratory, have been severely reduced. The NIH is now being limited to a 15% indirect funding cap, a dramatic drop from previous ranges of 60 to 70%. These cuts are hitting close to home, as UConn’s original indirect funding of 61% is being slashed to fit the 15% cap. UConn president Radenka Maric, stated in a recent response to the loss of funding that, “If implemented as announced, this change will impair our ability to produce innovative research that benefits all parts of society and place a significant financial strain on the university”.
Money is a catalyst in scientific research, propelling discoveries that otherwise would have taken lifetimes to uncover. In the past, NIH investments have fueled incredible results, such as advancements in gene editing techniques. These new technologies are currently being tested to treat genetic diseases such as cancer and sickle cell disease. When labs are faced with the purging of funds, life-saving results will be stalled. This is time that millions of families cannot buy, even with the four billion dollars the government is saving by cutting this funding.
Along with the loss of time, we will also see an increase in subpar results due to insignificant funds. When research lacks proper funding, the results are compromised. Promising studies are rushed, equipment fails and discoveries that should have been propelling progress are instead delayed or never realized. Our government expects us to settle for mediocrity, yet I challenge you to reach out for reliability.
Beyond the harm done to the country as a whole, these cuts harm students. As an undergraduate student pursuing medical school after graduation, I am experiencing the detrimental results of these cuts. For reference, to have a strong medical or dental school application, you need a significant amount of time dedicated to research. This is already a daunting task considering many professors are already hesitant to let undergraduate students into their lab. Now, with possible staffing cuts, material loss and threats of shutdown, the already-difficult task of getting into a lab has become almost impossible. In addition to being on the pre-med track, I am also an out-of-state student. This means that if I needed to stay over a break to work in the lab, I would be expected to pay out-of-pocket or plead with the professor to use the already-diminished budget to fund my pursuits. These struggles are faced by millions of students across the country. If students cannot get the required amount of research experience, many students will not be able to successfully apply to further schooling, potentially leading to an overall decline in these crucial jobs.
The most alarming aspect of these cuts is the thought process of the people who are making them. In a recent report, Sen. Ted Cruz claimed that NIH research funded “neo-Marxist” ideologies and left-wing “propaganda.” This claim is a terrifying glance at a politician trying to undermine the very foundation of scientific progress. By branding life-saving research as “propaganda,” Sen. Cruz is attacking funding, as well as the pursuit of knowledge. This concept fuels a dangerous future where science is no longer evaluated by its merit, but rather by its political convenience. If research aimed at curing diseases, advancing medical technology and improving public health is dismissed as ideological, the future of innovation is at risk because of willful political sabotage.
Not all hope is lost. As I’ve said before, you have the power to enact change. With an unpredictable future, educate yourself. Understand those who you call to power, and what they support. Unity is found in uncertainty. Research institutes, policies and lawsuits happening and lend them your support. Now is the time to take action. Demand that our future be prioritized over politics. Support the institutions driving progress and challenge the policies that threaten discovery.