Blog

Jan 27, 2025, 09:19

Charles R. Rogers: A wave of canceled meetings at NIH – arrived without warning

Charles R. Rogers, Founder and President at shared on LinkedIn:

“Yesterday’s news hit hard: a wave of canceled meetings at The National Institutes of Health (NIH)—the nation’s primary biomedical and public health research agency—arrived without warning. Even more devastating, some professors learned their funding was terminated immediately. For those of us working hard to make new discoveries, this isn’t just a delay—it’s a serious setback.

Behind every NIH-funded project are real people—brilliant, dedicated researchers fighting to cure diseases, improve health, and save lives. This disruption doesn’t just pause progress; it stalls breakthroughs, derails teams, and jeopardizes the futures of many.

What does this mean in human terms?

For labs, it’s a blow of uncertainty—researchers, students, and postdocs depending on grants may find their work and livelihoods in jeopardy.

For patients awaiting advances in treatments, it means more waiting.

For communities burdened by health disparities, it means delayed solutions and extended suffering.

This moment is heavy, but it’s not the end of the story. To those impacted:

You are not alone.

Here’s how we can weather this storm together:

1. Lean into your community. Support networks of colleagues, mentors, and allies can provide strength, clarity, and solutions in uncertain times.

2. Document everything. Track delays, canceled projects, and personal impacts—this information could be vital for advocating change.

3. Use your voice. Share your story with legislators, on social media, and in your community to emphasize the importance of research funding.

4. Focus on what’s in your control. Whether mentoring, submitting a paper, or brainstorming ideas, small, consistent actions still move progress forward.

5. Don’t lose hope. Science has weathered crises before, and our community’s resilience will help us rise again.

Above all, remember: Science is about people.

It’s about those who fight for discovery, those who benefit from it, and those whose futures depend on progress. We owe it to them—and to each other—to keep going, hold leaders accountable, and ensure science remains a beacon of hope.

Reflecting on this, I recall a recent lesson from my two-year-old son. Last year, while decorating windows for Christmas, he grew frustrated when the clings wouldn’t stick or tore.

With some guidance, he learned to slow down, try again, and ultimately found joy in the process. His lesson? With patience, determination, and support, setbacks can lead to something beautiful.

To everyone in this fight: You are seen, you are valued, and you are not alone.”