By Kritika Agarwal
United for Medical Research has launched a new project telling the stories of patients, families, scientists, and researchers who have been touched by medical breakthroughs made possible by the National Institutes of Health. The powerful and personal stories demonstrate how a well-funded NIH contributes to the health and well-being of countless Americans. (AAU is one of UMR’s founding members.)
UMR’s My WHY campaign comes at a critical time for the nation’s premier medical research agency – the Trump administration has proposed a nearly 40% cut to the NIH in FY26. In the first half of the year alone, according to UMR, more than 2,000 NIH grants totaling almost $3.8 billion were terminated and more than 1,000 NIH staff were laid off.
NIH-funded foundational and clinical research has been behind nearly every advancement in treating the chronic and infectious diseases that are the leading causes of death in the United States, and the stories in the My WHY campaign powerfully highlight the benefits of this research:
- “Because of the NIH, I am cancer-free, and my children are growing up with their mother in their lives. My job is supported by NIH, but my life was saved by it.” - Nicki Swann, Eugene, OR.
- “Because when I was an NIH-supported scholar, I learned that the treatment my mom was undergoing for breast cancer was developed by NIH-supported researchers. Today, she is a 12-year cancer survivor.” Steven Townsend, Nashville, TN.
- “Because biomedical research affects me both personally and professionally. I am a biomedical engineer as well as a tetraplegic due to a spinal cord injury.” Bradley Duerstock, West Lafayette, IN.
- “Because I’m an ovarian and uterine cancer survivor, and I know that lives are saved because of medical research.” Kerry Kriseman, St. Petersburg, FL.
To see all of the stories and to share your own story for why the NIH needs sustained and predictable funding, please visit the United for Medical Research website.
Kritika Agarwal is assistant vice president for communications at AAU.