By J. Andrew Berglund
Director of The RNA Institute; Co-Director, Center of Excellence in RNA Research and Therapeutics; Keith Hynes Endowed Professor in STEM; Distinguished Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
For many years scientists have taken for granted that the public supported scientific research and that the federal government would continually invest in this work. Unfortunately, public support for science has eroded over the past decade, making it more important than ever for scientists at all levels to communicate broadly and accessibly the benefits of science to help rebuild public trust. We need to describe the strong return on investment from federal funding, specifically how funds from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation directly benefit everyone.
According to a 2025 analysis by the group United for Medical Research, every federal dollar invested in research generates approximately $2.50 in economic impact. For example, supporting research and development in the biotechnology and cybersecurity fields leads to the creation of high-paying jobs, which can support 2-5 additional jobs in the broader economy. Additionally, investing in basic science builds the foundation for understanding the mechanisms that cause diseases. NIH-funded fundamental research to understand biological processes is behind more than 90% of current FDA-approved drugs. Technology development, another area funded by NIH and other federal sources, was critical to sequencing the human genome. Deciphering the human genome has allowed us to design precision drugs for cancer, heart disease, muscular dystrophy and many other genetic diseases.
On a personal note, NIH and other federal funds have allowed me to spend the past 20 years understanding the most common adult form of muscular dystrophy — myotonic dystrophy. This disease affects about 3.6 million people worldwide, and in New York State, the prevalence could be as high as 1 in 2,100. My colleagues and I have conducted research over the years that has provided the foundation for potential treatments, which pharma companies have now transformed into 10 drugs in clinical trials and, hopefully, an approved drug in the next year or two. Biotech and pharma’s strength lies in transforming basic research into treatments, an expensive-yet-profitable venture. Because we cannot predict where the next CRISPR, the next cancer drug or the next revolutionary technology will come from, it is not economically feasible to rely on these companies for basic research. Investment of public tax dollars in research fuels foundational discoveries that the free market transforms into new drugs and technologies. This model made the U. S. the world’s leader in science.
Without strong federal support, we will lose the next generation of scientists, and progress on treatments for muscular dystrophy, heart disease, cancer and basically any human health problems will dramatically slow down. I strongly encourage you to have conversations with scientists to learn what we do and why it is important to become advocates for science. Visit me and my team at The RNA Institute at the UAlbany to learn more about our research.
By J. Andrew Berglund
Director of The RNA Institute; Co-Director, Center of Excellence in RNA Research and Therapeutics; Keith Hynes Endowed Professor in STEM; Distinguished Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
For many years scientists have taken for granted that the public supported scientific research and that the federal government would continually invest in this work. Unfortunately, public support for science has eroded over the past decade, making it more important than ever for scientists at all levels to communicate broadly and accessibly the benefits of science to help rebuild public trust. We need to describe the strong return on investment from federal funding, specifically how funds from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation directly benefit everyone.
According to a 2025 analysis by the group United for Medical Research, every federal dollar invested in research generates approximately $2.50 in economic impact. For example, supporting research and development in the biotechnology and cybersecurity fields leads to the creation of high-paying jobs, which can support 2-5 additional jobs in the broader economy. Additionally, investing in basic science builds the foundation for understanding the mechanisms that cause diseases. NIH-funded fundamental research to understand biological processes is behind more than 90% of current FDA-approved drugs. Technology development, another area funded by NIH and other federal sources, was critical to sequencing the human genome. Deciphering the human genome has allowed us to design precision drugs for cancer, heart disease, muscular dystrophy and many other genetic diseases.
On a personal note, NIH and other federal funds have allowed me to spend the past 20 years understanding the most common adult form of muscular dystrophy — myotonic dystrophy. This disease affects about 3.6 million people worldwide, and in New York State, the prevalence could be as high as 1 in 2,100. My colleagues and I have conducted research over the years that has provided the foundation for potential treatments, which pharma companies have now transformed into 10 drugs in clinical trials and, hopefully, an approved drug in the next year or two. Biotech and pharma’s strength lies in transforming basic research into treatments, an expensive-yet-profitable venture. Because we cannot predict where the next CRISPR, the next cancer drug or the next revolutionary technology will come from, it is not economically feasible to rely on these companies for basic research. Investment of public tax dollars in research fuels foundational discoveries that the free market transforms into new drugs and technologies. This model made the U. S. the world’s leader in science.
Without strong federal support, we will lose the next generation of scientists, and progress on treatments for muscular dystrophy, heart disease, cancer and basically any human health problems will dramatically slow down. I strongly encourage you to have conversations with scientists to learn what we do and why it is important to become advocates for science. Visit me and my team at The RNA Institute at the UAlbany to learn more about our research.