Episode 23: The Research Funding Crisis: Dr. Guy Caldwell on NIH Cuts, Lab Survival, and the Fight for Medical Breakthroughs
Join Dr. Guy Caldwell, Distinguished Research Professor at the University of Alabama, for a riveting and urgent conversation that goes beyond the lab bench to the heart of America’s biomedical research crisis. In this episode, Dr. Caldwell—an internationally recognized leader in neurodegenerative disease research—shares the real-world impact of NIH funding freezes, budget cuts, and policy gridlock on labs, promising young scientists, and the future of life-changing discoveriesHear compelling stories from both the "Worm Shack" lab and classrooms filled with top science students: top-ranked research grants on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s now going unfunded, student opportunities being rescinded, and lab work grinding to a halt due to uncertainty and inconsistent support. Dr. Caldwell discusses the personal sacrifices needed to keep research and student training alive, the hidden infrastructure supporting breakthroughs, and the transformative power of investing in the next generation. Discover why basic and translational research are in jeopardy, how rare disease investigations can yield major insights, and what must change for the U.S. to remain a global science leader.This in-depth discussion is essential for anyone concerned about public health, America’s future competitiveness, and the invaluable role of federal science funding. Explore what’s truly at stake—from lab experiments to lawmakers’ decisions—and learn how viewers can add their voices to support urgent, sustained investment in research that touches every family.