Why Medical Research Matters to All of Us
By Grant Oliphant, CEO, Prebys Foundation
This past week, I had the privilege of moderating a powerful and deeply personal conversation with some of San Diego’s leading scientists, advocates, and researchers. We gathered for a Medical Research Teach-In — a community forum designed to shine a light on what’s at stake as proposed federal cuts threaten to undermine decades of progress in health, science, and innovation.
The topic was urgent. The message was clear.
Science Saves Lives — But Only When We Fund It
Panelist after panelist brought their experience to bear, not with lofty jargon, but with real-world stories of lives saved — and lives lost — based on one simple variable: whether funding was available in time.
Dr. Matthew Bainbridge told the story of two infants — both with the same treatable condition. One received a diagnosis and intervention in time, and now lives a healthy, typical life. The other, diagnosed months later due to lack of funding, will require lifelong, round-the-clock care. This is not theoretical. This is now.
Karen McDonald, a cancer survivor and patient advocate, reminded us that she is only alive today because a drug discovered in 2005 became available two years before she needed it. “If I’d been diagnosed just three years earlier,” she said, “I wouldn’t be here.”
These are not abstract concepts. These are the human consequences of policy decisions.
The Cuts Are Personal — and They’re Local
San Diego has long been a national leader in medical research and biotech innovation. That’s not accidental — it’s the result of deliberate investment, vision, and collaboration. Our region’s economy and health are intertwined with this sector. As Dr. Mike Taffe noted, federal funding through agencies like the NIH brings billions of dollars a year to San Diego County. That supports thousands of jobs — scientists, lab technicians, grant administrators, veterinary staff, and more.
If the cuts are implemented — some as high as 40% — many of those jobs will disappear. Promising new ideas won’t be funded. Clinical trials will be halted. And students training to enter the field may find doors closed before they even begin their careers.
Dr. Thomas Neuman, a retired head and neck surgeon, pointed out that the impact will be felt not only in labs, but also in families. “My niece is pursuing her doctorate here,” he said. “She’s worked for this for three and a half years. If programs get shut down, what happens to her future? What happens to the future of her patients?”
Equity, Innovation, and the Pipeline at Risk
Dr. Svasti Haricharan, whose idea sparked the teach-in, shared how a promising breast cancer diagnostic her lab is developing may now stall — not because the science is flawed, but because funding for new ideas has dried up. “Even if we have clinicians and patients ready to participate,” she explained, “we might never be able to test it.”
She also offered a striking truth: “It takes courage to do science right now. Even more to talk about it publicly.”
Dr. Arun Sethuraman, a geneticist and educator, laid bare the consequences of gutting diversity-focused programs. Many of his students — many of whom are first-generation or from low-income backgrounds — can no longer afford to participate in research. “We’re losing brilliant minds who were ready to serve San Diego,” he said. “We’re closing the very doors that gave many of us our start.”
It’s not just about who gets to do the science — it’s about what science gets done. “When the researchers doing the work are diverse,” said Dr. Taffe, “the questions they ask — and the communities they serve — are too.”
What We Lose When We Defund Discovery
The cruelest irony in all of this is that we are cutting the very work that has made us a global leader. As Dr. Bainbridge pointed out, if we stop investing in research, “we don’t just stop leading — we fall behind.” Science is an aspirational business. It doesn’t yield overnight miracles; it demands decades of patient investment. But its outcomes — longer lives, healthier families, thriving communities — are worth every penny.
What We Can Do — Together
If you’re wondering what you can do, the answer is simple and powerful: Speak up. Call your representatives. Tell your story. Share why science matters to you, your family, and your community. You can use the scripts and QR codes created by Dr. Arun Sethurama to speak up for your family and community:
Resources for Scientific Advocacy and Action
Provided by panelist: 5 Calls – NIH & NSF Funding Cuts
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network — Share Your Story
How has cancer research funding made a difference in your life?
Submit your story
As Dr. Haricharan urged, “It doesn’t matter what party you support. Cancer doesn’t check your registration.”
Dr. Neuman put it this way: “Advocacy is storytelling. We all have stories. And they matter.”
This Is About Our Future
In a moment when it feels like science is under siege, we must remember what’s at stake: human health, economic strength, and hope for the next generation.
This teach-in was just a start — but it won’t be the end. At Prebys Foundation, we’re committed to supporting the researchers, advocates, and community members who make San Diego a beacon of innovation and healing. This moment demands nothing less.
Let’s rise to it.
