SEATTLE — Andrea Gilbert thought she understood her brain’s future. The 79-year-old retired attorney, living with Alzheimer’s, agreed to donate her brain to research in 2023. She hoped her contribution would help scientists tackle a disease that had made it hard for her to remember daily tasks.
However, her hopes are clouded due to a shift in funding for biomedical research. The Trump administration has introduced significant changes that have disrupted grant funding. Gilbert, receiving treatment at Harborview Medical Center, expressed uncertainty about her donation’s impact. “It’s going to go one way or another. I’m not taking it with me,” she remarked, hoping her gift would be used wisely.
Thousands of research grants, including those focused on Alzheimer’s, are now stuck in limbo. Experts warn that this slowdown could harm decades of progress in understanding diseases and developing treatments. For instance, the University of Washington’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) has relied on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for its funding since 1985. This center manages a brain bank that accepts over 200 donations every year, preserving more than 4,000 brains for research.
However, the center’s grant is due for renewal this April. The funding delays affect not just research but also real patient care. Dr. Thomas Grabowski, the ADRC director, is concerned about the future. "When it looks like delays are extensive, we don’t have clear answers," he stated.
Dr. Dirk Keene, a neuropathologist at UW Medicine, is committed to honoring donors like Gilbert. "If funding dries up, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep our work going," he said.
This funding crisis has left universities struggling. Research grants have been terminated at institutions like Johns Hopkins and Princeton as part of a broader policy change. The ACLU has challenged these cuts, arguing they disproportionately affect underfunded research areas, including diversity and LGBTQ issues.
The University of Washington has been particularly hard hit. Many researchers worry that talent will leave the U.S. altogether. Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert, vice dean of research and graduate education at UW Medicine, emphasized that losing skilled researchers could lead to long-term implications: “They often don’t come back once they divert their careers elsewhere.”
The NIH reassured the public that it aims to restore its commitment to rigorous scientific research. Yet, the uncertainty remains. As noted by the Alzheimer’s Association, over 6 million Americans live with this disease, making ongoing research vital. Without robust funding, the path to understanding Alzheimer’s could become even more challenging.
For more information on Alzheimer’s research and support, check out the Alzheimer’s Association website.
Check out this related article: How Trump’s Actions Are Shaking Up the Safest Investment in Global Finance
Source link