Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Researcher on NIH Cuts: “Every Setback Costs Lives”

MADISON, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – Senators and scientists are sounding the alarm, saying the Trump administration’s cuts to research funding will harm Americans’ health, futures, and economy. 

Researchers spoke at the nation’s capitol Wednesday about how cuts from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency threaten work to cure cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other diseases. 

The Trump administration is working to dismantle the National Institutes of Health, the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world.  

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) led the forum, joined by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) 

“NIH-funded  funded research contributed to 354 out of the 356 drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 2010 and 2019,” Baldwin said. “Simply put, without the NIH, there would be no cancer immunotherapy, no anti-overdose medications, no cutting-edge treatments.”

The Trump administration capped some research reimbursement at 15%, when UW-Madison had previous agreements with the federal government for 53% reimbursement. 

According to Baldwin, funding is frozen for 14 Alzheimer’s research centers across the country. She said the Trump administration is cutting 3,400-5,000 jobs from the NIH. 

Dr. Sterling Johnson leads Alzheimer’s research at UW-Madison. 

“Over 6.9 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s today, a number that will double by 2050 without effective solutions,” Johnson said. “Thanks to NIH support, our field has made game-changing advances.” 

UW-Madison is in the middle of decadeslong research. Johnson said they’re already feeling the impact of these cuts. 

“There are delays in peer review and funding processes for some projects and centers. There are proposed cuts that threaten major ongoing studies, including treatment trials, risking the loss of millions of dollars already invested and setting our patients back,” he said. “On top of this, the growing uncertainty is discouraging early career scientists from staying in the field, undermining the future of our biomedical workforce.” 

Johnson said these cuts would set back scientific advances, when researchers have worked for decades to get here.

“If these cuts go into effect, studies will be delayed and slowed. We will lose ground on hard-won progress. Every setback costs lives and quality of life, and increases the already staggering $360 billion annual cost of Alzheimer’s healthcare.”

In 2024, Wisconsin received $595 million from the National Institutes of Health.