Impacts and Importance of Research in Advancing Global Health Care Services

Decades of medical research have significantly increased human life expectancy rates, shifting it from around 40 years in the early 19th century to 72 years in 2020. This impressive progression is due to organizations like Partners In Health (PIH), who hold research as a vital part of their mission. For instance, PIH co-founder Dr. Paul Farmer took on the challenge of treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in resource-limited settings like Peru, successfully proving its feasibility.

His qualitative research with PIH led to advances in TB care in Peru and influenced future clinical trials and MDR-TB treatment worldwide. Their research findings have even been adopted by the World Health Organization through the endTB project to update global TB treatment guidelines.

The Critical Role of Medical Research

Medical research, ranging from laboratory studies to clinical trials, has resulted in major advancements like vaccines, insulin, anesthesia, and treatments for infectious diseases. It contributes to improving diagnostics, advancing disease treatment, and enhancing our understanding of diseases. “Research is the key to advancing health on all levels, from the individual to the global,” stated Cora Cunningham, PIH Engage member and research assistant at Tufts University.

Battling for Biomedical Research Funding

Despite its essential role, biomedical research, especially research funded through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research, has been targeted by the current U.S. administration. This has resulted in freezes in funding, roadblocks to financing, and complex new procedures, disrupting progress in disease prevention, diagnostics, and treatment.

Funding Cuts Impacting Healthcare

Cunningham was part of a team evaluating programs to reduce infectious disease burden when the project was halted due to the dismantling of USAID, leading to the loss of all funding. For millions, such funding cuts mean immediate interruptions to care or treatment. Unexpected interruptions in biomedical research funding can skew results, force projects to restart, and leave patients in the lurch.

Bipartisan Opposition Against Funding Disruptions

The Trump administration’s disruption to NIH funding has received substantial bipartisan resistance. Early in the presidency, NIH was prevented from posting notices of grant review meetings, effectively stalling the grantmaking process. On May 1, NIH prohibited American researchers from issuing subcontracts to partners outside the U.S., impacting approximately 1,800 health research projects according to STAT. The decision resulted in a standoff, as the Legislative Branch pushed back against the administration’s attempts to override Congress’ power of the purse.

Potential Long-Term Impact

The long-term consequences of halted or suspended research could be severe, affecting patients, disease treatments, job markets, and public health. “If research is stopped for a year, it takes about three years to recover. This impact on human lives could be severe without intentional efforts to restart and compensate for everything that’s been lost,” warned Carole Mitnick, PIH’s director of research for the endTB project.