"Silencing Intellectuals is a Playbook for Dictators"
The Heavy Weight of Uncertainty Facing Academic Research
With the rash and frenzied decisions coming from Washington right now, our stories can't just be numbers in a spreadsheet or references in a news article - we have to speak out. If we choose to come together and share the real world impact this Administration is having on everyday people, we can create a groundswell of unity and hope. Share you story here, subscribe to this newsletter, and share it with five friends!
From a Professor in California
“I am an immigrant woman and a scientist.”
I am an assistant professor at a R1 institute, and my lab is primarily funded by NIH grants. My lab focuses on immunology and we develop novel immune and gene therapies for HIV, Alzheimer's Disease and other chronic diseases. I have trained 20 trainees who are now successful in their careers as doctors, scientists, nutritionists, or medical/graduate school students. I have always loved research and teaching and did not take on more lucrative industry jobs because of how much I love teaching.
I immigrated to the United States in 2006 as a PhD student and obtained citizenship in 2016. I have always strongly believed in the U.S. constitution and appreciated being part of the research empire in the U.S. The NIH funding cut and withhold of research funding affects our lab and our collaborative labs in multiple schools immensely. We have not seen any issuing of new funding since late January, and we have several grants in limbo.
“The uncertainty is weighing on everyone.”
Besides being extremely demoralizing, we cannot plan our large collaborative animal experiments, which can take several years to accomplish. I am also worried for all my trainees, as diversity grants are rescinded, Graduate schools have started reducing class sizes, NIH postbaccalaureate and summer internships are canceled. This will also affect private sector talent and drug development pipelines, further hurting our economy.
“We risk losing a generation of new talent.”
Whenever I turn on the news, I feel my entire being is under attack. I will keep my head up, and always work on creating a safe place for my students and staff, but the relentless, bizarre attacks on NIH and key government institutions and intellectuals weighs on me heavily.
“I came from a country with an authoritarian government and silencing intellectuals is a playbook for dictators.”
I hope more Americans can see it clearly: this is a lame-duck presidency, and the government is being disrupted by a billionaire that have no business, no legal standing nor credentials in messing with the federal government.
Let us stand up for science, human decency, and the future of the U.S.
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