Guest Blog–AACR Issues Calls to Action to Advocacy Colleagues and Supporters of NIH Funding

Shared with permission from and thanks to the American Association for Cancer research.

This post contains information about the “Rally for Medical Research ‘On the Road’” initiative, which probably could not be coming at a more important time based on all of the troubling and concerning news for medical research that seems to be reported on a daily basis. The most troubling of the news was reported last week when a leaked document showed that there may be plans for a 40 percent cut (a $20 billion cut) to NIH’s budget as part of the FY2026 White House budget request. (This is discussed in item #4 below).

Jon Retzlaff Chief Policy Officer in the AACR Office of Science Policy and Government Affairs underscored in a recent email just how important it is to work with Members of Congress, as the “power of the purse” resides with Congress.  He brings four areas of work to the community’s attention:

• ACTION: Sign-up to Serve on an AACR Organizing Committee for each of the 4 Targeted States to Plan a “Rally for Medical Research Hill Day ‘On the Road’” Event/Activity
  1. AACR is planning to establish an organizing committee for each of the four states we are initially targeting (Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and West Virginia).
  2. Therefore, if your organization includes members/constituents who are from one or more of these four particular states, and you would potentially be interested in serving on an organizing committee to discuss plans and strategies for moving the initiative forward, please let Jon know
     
  3. We also hope that you will begin compiling a potential list of your members/constituents who reside in the four targeted states, at least those who potentially may be interested in participating.

• An Excellent Summary/Highlight Video from the Senate Congressional Forum that took place on March 26th
  1. Please watch the video of highlights from the March 26, 2025 Congressional Forum that Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) and Peter Welch (D-Vermont) convened to spotlight how ongoing interference at the NIH—from canceled grants and leadership upheaval to massive staffing cuts—is already derailing research and putting patients’ lives at risk.
  2. This 12-minute highlight video https://vimeo.com/centercityvideo/review/1071586931/8769d7aa01  (which are excerpts taken from the 2 ½ hour Forum) includes many of the most important and powerful messages that the medical research advocacy community is currently communicating to Members of Congress to justify why NIH funding needs to be a national priority. AACR is also in the process of developing shorter 30-second to one-minute clips from the video for use on social media.
  3. If you only have time to watch one minute of the video, please go the video at the 5-minute mark when the ALS patient who participated in the briefing shared a message from his son. It was a very powerful and emotional moment for everyone in the room.
  4. Special thanks to Senator Baldwin’s staff for granting AACR permission to bring its own camera crew (Center City Film and Video) to the hearing, which enabled them to chronicle the event and conduct interviews with the participants.
  5. As a reminder, the Congressional Forum, titled, “Cures in Crisis: What Gutting NIH Research Means for Americans with Cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Other Diseases,” featured testimony from former NIH Director Monica Bertagnolli, MD, researchers from leading institutions, and patients whose lives depend on continued progress in medical research.
  6. In addition to Senators Baldwin and Welch, other participating senators included Chuck Schumer (D-New York), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada), Patty Murray (D-Washington), Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts), Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota),Angela Alsobrooks (D-Maryland), Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts).

• Congress Announces a Bipartisan Congressional Hearing on Biomedical Research on April 30th (“Biomedical Research: Keeping America’s Edge in Innovation”)
  1. As you know (and likely as a result of the extremely successful Congressional Forum that Democrats held on March 26th), Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chair and Vice Chair of the Seante Appropriations Committee, respectively, announced a full committee (and bipartisan) hearing series titled “Biomedical Research: Keeping America’s Edge in Innovation.” The first hearing in the two-part series will feature researchers and stakeholder groups to discuss the importance of U.S. biomedical research (including at the NIH, DOD, VA, as well as involving the FDA) for the nation’s health and economy. The second hearing, which will occur at a later date, will include Administration witnesses testifying on the federal government’s role in investing in and fostering biomedical innovation.
  2. The first hearing will take place Wednesday, April 30 at 10:30 AM ET 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building.

• The President’s FY2026 Budget Request may include a 40 percent cut to NIH’s Budget

1. 1. As many of you are aware, the Administration is sending signals that it plans to include a 40 percent cut to NIH’s budget when the President’s FY2026 budget proposal is released, as well as recommend that the agency’s 27 institutes and centers be reorganized into just eight institutes.
   2. According to a leaked document, NIH’s budget would decline from $47.1 billion in FY2025 to 27.3 billion in FY2026.
   3. As a reminder, more than 500 organizations within the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research are recommending at least $51.3 billion for NIH in FY2026.
   4. Fortunately, before the Administration’s plan can be carried out, Congress will need to review and approve it.
   5. Therefore, all this just underscores the importance of the medical research community continuing to work together to ensure that our collective voices are being heard on Capitol Hill. Bottom line, if there ever was a time for all of us to remain together in support of NIH it is NOW!