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Trump's NIH funding cuts halt Indiana's life-saving research

Trump's NIH funding cuts halt Indiana's life-saving research

Yahoo06-03-2025

Cancer. Diabetes. Sickle cell. Cystic fibrosis. Thanks to decades of research funding from the National Institutes of Health, people suffering from these and countless other debilitating diseases live longer, healthier lives.
It's estimated that 99% of medications approved in the 2010s were supported by NIH-funded research. Breakthrough treatments created by pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly & Co. are built on foundational studies funded by the NIH. If you've been to the doctor and received treatment, that treatment was very likely built on NIH-supported research.
Opinion: DOGE fired me. I'll be fine, but America is in trouble.
The NIH is a powerful engine of American ingenuity and productivity. NIH funding has incredible returns: beyond lives saved, every research dollar spent generates about $2.50 in economic activity. Indiana is a major beneficiary of NIH funding. In 2023, NIH grants generated $1.1 billion in economic activity in Indiana and supported 5,359 jobs such as mine as a researcher at Ball State University.
My lab has been funded by the NIH for over a decade. We study how cells handle the kind of 'molecular garbage' that piles up in the brains of patients with neurodegenerative diseases (like what my grandmother Marmee suffered with). With NIH funds, my team recently discovered that a microscopic protein motor helps cells destroy molecular garbage. Our NIH-supported work could lead to improved treatments and longer, healthier lives for people with dementia-related diseases.
In addition, my lab trains Indiana's biomedical workforce. Many students who conduct research in my NIH-funded lab go on to work in industry labs (like those at Eli Lilly) and academic institutions, where they perform groundbreaking research that improves the health of Americans.
However, beginning January 27, a series of executive actions froze virtually all new federal grants, effectively grinding NIH-funded research to a halt. These cuts will be devastating to the economy and life-saving research conducted by scientists in Indiana. While the initial executive order has been challenged in court, the administration has found procedural loopholes to stop new life-saving research funding from being distributed.
This blockade not only prevents the ability to pay for lab personnel salaries and research supplies, but it also cuts funds for research support staff, administrative and maintenance staff, IT, libraries, facilities and equipment upkeep, and more. These people and resources are essential to sustaining life-saving and economy-boosting research. Gutted NIH funding will lead to hiring reductions and freezes (making it more difficult and dangerous to conduct research) and rapid deterioration of state-of-the-art scientific facilities.
If NIH funding reductions are made permanent, some universities will likely stop supporting the submission of NIH grants altogether, resulting in the shuttering of entire research programs, loss of jobs, and a failure to make life-saving discoveries.
Dominoes are already falling. Some institutions have enacted hiring freezes. Several graduate programs have paused PhD student admissions. Federally funded summer internship programs that launch young scientists' careers have been canceled, and impactful programs and grants that reduce barriers to participation in STEM have been frozen.
I know of multiple promising students who have questioned their decisions to pursue scientific careers. We are on the verge of losing a cohort of transformative young scientists. They are amazing — my colleagues and I teach them in our classes and mentor them in our research labs.
If NIH funding is not soon restored, careers will end, labs will close, and life-saving discoveries will not be made. The sledgehammering of NIH funding will derail American biomedical science for a long, long time.
Eric 'VJ' Rubenstein is the Thomas E. and Karen Bumb Lauer Distinguished Professor of Natural Sciences and Professor of Biology at Ball State University, where NIH funding to his lab has supported 20 peer-reviewed biomedical scientific publications and the training of 60 early-career scientists. Rubenstein is a member of the Ball State University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NIH funding treats cancer, diabetes. That's over, for now. | Opinion

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Galectin Therapeutics to Host Virtual KOL Event to Discuss Belapectin for Treatment of MASH Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension
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Galectin Therapeutics to Host Virtual KOL Event to Discuss Belapectin for Treatment of MASH Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension

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Traveler Says Us Food Is Making Them 'Sick,' Internet Has Strong Opinions
Traveler Says Us Food Is Making Them 'Sick,' Internet Has Strong Opinions

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Traveler Says Us Food Is Making Them 'Sick,' Internet Has Strong Opinions

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An American traveler's viral Reddit post about the stark contrast between food in the United States and Italy has ignited widespread discussion about diet, health and food quality in the U.S. The post, titled "Travel made me realize US food is making me sick," was shared by u/Temporary-Night-275 in the r/Vent subreddit. The post, which details the traveler's experience after returning from a trip to Italy, has amassed 30,000 upvotes and hundreds of comments since it was posted on June 4. The poster, who is in their 20s but did not share their name, told Newsweek that they live in the Midwest and work in health care. "I'm just so mad at the food in the US," the poster wrote. "I left for two weeks to Italy. My mood was better, my awareness was better. I could eat wheat (I'm extremely gluten intolerant and it messes with my autoimmune disease if I eat it among a multitude of other symptoms) with gluten pills with minor bloating. "I had some of the best food, best health feelings—other than muscle soreness from walking so much—I've ever had in my life. It's made me have so much resentment for U.S. food. I mean even my skin cleared up quite a bit overseas." Dr. Sandip Sachar, a New York City dentist with a background in nutrition studies, told Newsweek: "It is quite possible the Reddit poster's experience was accurate and has validity." Sachar explained: "Italy does not add fluoride to its public water supply. Unlike countries such as the United States, where water fluoridation is a public health measure to prevent tooth decay, Italy has never implemented artificial water fluoridation programs. "Despite not adding fluoride to its water supply, Italy does not have significantly higher caries [tooth decay] rates compared to the U.S. within similar socioeconomic populations." She added that diet and culture likely play a role: "Food isn't rushed or eaten on the go." A 2018 study in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine highlighted broader concerns about American dietary habits. The study said "that most chronic diseases that afflict Americans are predominantly lifestyle induced; and the belief is that the vast majority of heart attacks and strokes could be prevented if people were willing to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors." The study noted: "Over the past 50 years, the health of Americans has gotten worse, and now 71 percent of Americans are overweight or obese…today, eating processed foods and fast foods may kill more people prematurely than cigarette smoking." Stock image of a table spread with various American-themed foods, including hot dogs, burgers and potato chips. Stock image of a table spread with various American-themed foods, including hot dogs, burgers and potato chips. Getty The traveler explained in the viral post: "I eat pretty healthy—I love snacking on veggies. It just makes me so mad that having any kind of sugar is just too much here [the U.S.]. Sugar and wheat and whatever else is just so much harder on my body here than Italy." The poster told of how was initially "too nervous" to try gluten while abroad, after not having had it in 10 years. However, when they did, the reaction was mild. The poster told Newsweek: "I didn't wake up the next day feeling like I got hit by a bus. I didn't have the skin irritation. I didn't have massive weight gain, just bloating and cramping. "When I took my gluten enzymes, it basically resolved the effects in a couple hours. And this was after eating pizza, bread and pasta. 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Sugary foods also cause rapid glucose spikes, triggering a strong insulin response. "Over time, this can contribute to insulin resistance, fat storage, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity and increased inflammation. Excess sugar also disrupts the gut microbiome." Comparing breads, Sachar said: "Italian bread is usually made with just three to four ingredients—flour, water, salt, and yeast." In contrast, much of American bread contains dough conditioners (e.g. azodicarbonamide), emulsifiers, added sugars or high-fructose corn syrup, preservatives to extend shelf life and synthetic vitamins (fortified), she said. Sachar noted that traditional Italian and European breads often undergo long fermentation (12 to 48 hours), making them easier to digest and reducing the glycemic index. "Most commercial breads in the U.S. do not go through this long fermentation process because speed is prioritized." Cultural attitudes toward food also differ significantly. "Meals in Italy are slower, social, and often cooked at home. Food isn't rushed or eaten on the go. Lunch breaks are usually one to two hours long. Children grow up learning better eating habits. Portions are smaller too. In the U.S., convenience and speed is considered a priority. Processed foods and takeout are therefore widespread," Sachar said. 'The Quality of Our Food Is Garbage' Reddit users responding to the viral post shared their own experiences of struggling with American food. "When I first moved to the U.S. I gained 60 whole ass pounds," wrote u/Ok_Profile_9278. "My habits didn't actually change much, but everyone I know who's come here from a different country has a similar story to tell." U/Platypus_31415 echoed this: "I spent three weeks in the U.S. and it took me three to four months to recover. It's the land of the free: free to sell crap to the customers." Another commenter, u/SureAd5625, pointed to a deeper problem: "The issue isn't even the type of food. 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Can debt relief help with unpaid medical bills? What experts say
Can debt relief help with unpaid medical bills? What experts say

CBS News

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Can debt relief help with unpaid medical bills? What experts say

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. There are multiple debt relief (and DIY) options that can help you tackle your unpaid medical bills. Getty Images Despite recent efforts toward medical debt reform, many Americans still deal with piles of medical bills. A 2024 analysis from Peterson-KFF shows that about 20 million adults — nearly one in 12 — have unpaid medical debt. Around 14 million of those owe at least $1,000, while 3 million owe $10,000 or more. "Most people don't worry about medical bills — until they do," says James Lambridis, CEO of debt relief platform DebtMD. "Medical bills usually come without warning, and they're often much more expensive than expected." Compound these balances with other challenging factors like stubborn inflation, high interest rates, and economic policy concerns, and consumers are feeling the pressure to get out from under their medical debts. For some, debt relief strategies may be able to help. Are you one of the millions of Americans looking to tackle medical debt? We asked some experts about your debt relief options. Start tackling your medical debt here now. Can debt relief help with unpaid medical bills? If you're dealing with medical debt, there are several debt relief options you might explore. These include: Credit counseling The first option you might consider is credit counseling. Credit counselors can help you "Create a budget, prioritize payments, and can potentially assist with other high-interest debt to make the medical debt more affordable," says Thomas Nitzsche, a financial educator and vice president of public relations at Money Management International, a nonprofit credit counseling agency. According to Nitzsche, about one in five of the company's customers come to them with medical debts. "Credit counseling is highly recommended, especially when debt feels overwhelming," says Tayri Martinez-Orza, financial wellness expert and quality assurance expert at GreenPath Financial Wellness, a nonprofit financial counseling service. "It provides a fresh perspective and support by reviewing all of their debts — as well as their income and expenses — to help identify the most affordable and realistic repayment plan." Best of all? It's typically free. "A counselor gives you an in-depth debt analysis over the phone," says Howard Dvorkin, chairman of "There's no obligation, and you hang up knowing all your options and — most importantly — creating an accurate monthly budget." Learn more about your credit counseling options here. Debt settlement Settlement may also be an option. This is when your debt relief company negotiates with your creditor (in this case, usually the hospital or doctor) to settle your debt for less than what you owe. You'll still need to make a payment, but it can often be significantly less than what you owe. Settlement is more likely to be successful if you owe a large amount and can prove you have a financial hardship. In this case, it would benefit the creditor more to get some money from your account rather than none at all. "Debt settlement is a viable option for individuals with unsecured debt exceeding $7,500, — including medical debt or medical debt placed on a credit card," says Natalia Brown, chief compliance officer at National Debt Relief. Debt Management Plan (DMP) Debt management plans could be an option, too, especially if medical debts aren't the only debts you're dealing with. With a DMP, your debt relief provider handles repayment of all your debts on your behalf. You only make one flat payment to them each month, and they focus on putting those funds toward paying down your debts most efficiently. Explore other strategies Beyond debt relief, other strategies can help you tackle medical debt, too, experts say. First, you can negotiate. "Your best option is to simply ask to pay less," Dvorkin says. "It sounds silly, but sometimes you shave dollars off your bill just by calling your healthcare provider and calmly explaining you can't afford to pay everything you owe right now. Sometimes, they'll ask what you can afford, so have a number in mind." You can also ask about hardship options, financial assistance, or in-house payment plans, which could reduce your costs or help you spread them out over a longer period of time. "Many hospitals offer financial assistance to help people burdened with medical care," Lambridis says. "Check to see if you meet their requirements to qualify. Even if you don't, your hospital may be able to put you on a more convenient payment plan." Finally, always double-check your bills. Medical coding errors are common, and depending on your insurance coverage, they could cost you quite a bit. "After receiving your bill, check to see if it's accurate," Lambridis says. "Look for overcharges, duplicate billing, or charges on services that you didn't receive. Medical bills can be difficult to understand. If you find yourself confused, contact your hospital's billing office." You can also speak to a medical billing advocate. They can help you decipher medical bills and ensure your charges match the services you actually received — and that your insurance was correctly applied to those charges. Don't use credit cards or loans (and don't wait) Whatever you do, try to avoid using credit cards or loans to pay off medical debt. Thanks to recent credit reporting changes, failing to repay medical bills should not have an adverse effect on your credit — but not paying credit cards or loans will. Additionally, medical providers are typically slower to send debts to collections, as it takes a while for billing and insurance payments to be sorted out. This could give you more time to pay off your bills, especially with a payment plan. Finally, credit cards and loans can come with high rates. The current average rate on a credit card is over 21%. "Placing medical debt on credit cards can be less effective, especially in a high-interest environment," Brown says. "Doing this often leads to even more expensive balances since interest can accrue on credit cards if the full balance isn't paid monthly."

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