Saluting the NIH: Advancing Science
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has always been a pillar of hope and discovery. Even when budgets get tight, the NIH doesn’t back down—it keeps moving forward, focused on advancing science and saving lives.
It’s pretty incredible to think about how NIH started as a modest lab and grew into a global research powerhouse. Their breakthroughs have truly changed the world. (Read more…) Thanks to the Salk vaccine, polio was brought under control; HIV/AIDS, once a death sentence, is now manageable because of antiretroviral therapies. Survival rates for childhood leukemia jumped from less than 10% to over 90%. And with NIH-funded research, we discovered the BRCA genes linked to breast cancer, new treatments for cystic fibrosis, and even the world’s first artificial heart implantation.
When budgets get slashed, it’s a real test of the NIH’s resolve, but not its commitment. Teams find ways to adapt, prioritize, and keep their eyes on the ultimate goal: better health for everyone. Sure, having fewer resources means tough choices, but it also sparks creative solutions and a fierce determination to keep going. Brain banking—like the initiative supported through the NeuroBioBank—remains a top priority in understanding our most complex organ.
Despite all these challenges, the NIH keeps leading the way. Mapping the human genome, developing mRNA vaccines for COVID-19, pioneering cancer immunotherapies, and advancing deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease are just a few examples. Research funded by the NIH brought us statins, which have saved millions from heart attacks and strokes, and revolutionized organ transplants with anti-rejection drugs.
At the heart of it all, the NIH is really about people—dedicated professionals working behind the scenes to give hope to patients and families.
Underfunding the NIH risks slowing progress, but the institution’s resilience shines through. Let’s champion the NIH—not just for its past triumphs, but for its future promise.
To everyone at the NIH: your work matters, your resolve inspires, and your nation is grateful.
