Latest news with #PediaFlow
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Children to feel the brunt of the Trump administration's regressive agenda
If the American public were polled about whether the government should fund research into helping children with heart defects, it's a safe bet that this would receive overwhelming public support. And yet, The New York Times reported on the Trump administration abruptly cutting off federal funding for research at Cornell University, which halted an effort to develop a heart pump for babies and children with heart defects. The pump has been under development for decades, but researchers said they had reached a critical moment: Before they had received a stop-work order a month ago, they had planned to soon start testing the device on sheep. 'We've come to a screeching halt because we're 100 percent dependent on this money to do this work,' said James Antaki, a biomedical engineering professor leading the research. Unless the funding is restored within the next few months, he said, the project will be 'cast to the four winds.' This isn't a situation in which the Trump administration cut funding because it thought the research was 'woke.' In fact, by all accounts, the PediaFlow heart pump is completely uncontroversial. But the White House has launched a brutal offensive against higher education in recent months, specifically targeting universities that handled pro-Palestinian student protests in ways Donald Trump didn't like. That includes Cornell, which led the administration to withdraw, among other things, a $6.5 million research grant to help children with heart defects at a critical juncture. NBC News' report on this explained, 'An infant's heart is about the size of a large walnut. When a baby is born with a hole between the chambers of the heart, it can be a life-threatening condition. [Antaki created] a AA battery-sized device that uses a rotating propeller on magnets to increase blood flow, helping them to survive surgery or live at home with their family until a donor heart is available, if needed.' The grant that Cornell expected to receive, the NBC News report added, would have supported 'further testing of the prototype, including placement in an animal to ensure it won't harm humans, and completion of the mountain of paperwork needed to move through the Food and Drug Administration's regulatory process.' It's still possible that the administration could reverse course on this — it's happened many times since the president returned to power — but for now, this potentially lifesaving research is on indefinite hold, not because it lacks merit, but because the White House has a culture war to fight. As upsetting as these developments are, they're also part of a larger pattern. Last week, for example, The Washington Post reported: A decades-long campaign to prevent infants from dying in their sleep has become a casualty of the Trump administration's federal workforce cuts, and doctors fear it could contribute to more infant deaths at a time when mortalities have already been rising. The office within the National Institutes of Health that led the Safe to Sleep campaign, a public information effort to prevent sudden unexpected infant death, was shut down on April 1, according to two former NIH officials and two program partners who spoke with The Washington Post. The Post's report, which has not been independently verified by MSNBC or NBC News, quoted Rachel Moon, a doctor who chairs the American Academy of Pediatrics' committee on infant sleep death and who wrote its recommendations on safe infant sleep. 'To have this program be terminated when the number of deaths is going up is really quite devastating,' she said. 'If we take [the messaging] out, then more babies are going to die. That's what I'm worried about.' A week earlier, ProPublica had a related report on the bigger picture: The staff of a program that helps millions of poor families keep the electricity on, in part so that babies don't die from extreme heat or cold, have all been fired. The federal office that oversees the enforcement of child support payments has been hollowed out. Head Start preschools, which teach toddlers their ABCs and feed them healthy meals, will likely be forced to shut down en masse, some as soon as May 1. And funding for investigating child sexual abuse and internet crimes against children; responding to reports of missing children; and preventing youth violence has been withdrawn indefinitely. The administration has laid off thousands of workers from coast to coast who had supervised education, child care, child support and child protective services systems, and it has blocked or delayed billions of dollars in funding for things like school meals and school safety. The Post's Catherine Rampell, a new MSNBC co-host, recently summarized, 'They've persecuted immigrants, transgender people and scientists. They've targeted the rule of law and free speech. Now, they're coming for your children, too. It's been largely lost in the cacophony over President Donald Trump's tariffs and vendettas against universities, but administration officials have been gutting services that keep children alive and well.' This article was originally published on
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Trump stops funding for life-saving infant heart device research, cancels $6.7 million grant
President Donald Trump's administration has stopped funding for a team researching ways to help infants with heart defects. Dr. James Antaki, a professor of biomedical engineering at Cornell University, told NBC News that the Department of Defense has cancelled a $6.7 million grant that would allow him to continue researching PediaFlow , a device that could boost blood flow in infants with heart defects. #Operation Sindoor India responds to Pak's ceasefire violation; All that happened India-Pakistan ceasefire reactions: Who said what Punjab's hopes for normalcy dimmed by fresh violations Here are key things you need to know: -The Trump administration has revoked funding for a pioneering heart device designed to save the lives of critically ill infants, only days after it was granted by the US department of defense. -Awarded by the Department of Defense on March 30, it would allow Dr James' team at Cornell to ramp up production and testing of PediaFlow, a device that boosts blood flow in infants with heart defects. A week later, that all changed. -On April 8, the Defense Department issued a stop-work order to Antaki, notifying him that his team would no longer receive the funding that was meant to be distributed over four years. With three decades of research now in jeopardy, Antaki said he has no explanation for the government's decision to terminate the support. ALSO READ: Is Robert Francis Prevost the most progressive Pope? His views on Trump's policies spark debate Live Events -Antaki's device, which he began developing in 2003, is the size of an AA battery and helps increase blood flow to babies born with a hole between the chambers of their heart. According to The Independent, the device aids in their survival until they can undergo surgery or receive a donated heart. - Antaki's three decades of research are now in jeopardy. If funding is not restored within three months, his lab will have to reduce staff, and the PhD students will need to pursue a different area of research. 'I feel that it's my calling in life to complete this project,' he said. -'Once a week, I go through this mental process of, 'Is it time to give up?' But it is not my prerogative to give up.' Antaki says this grant is a 'small amount of money that could do so much good for so many people,' compared to the federal government's budget. ALSO READ: Elon Musk sued: Did SpaceX fire an employee over frequent bathroom usage due to Crohn's disease? -Dr. Evan Zahn, a pediatric interventional cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center who isn't involved in Antaki's research, said the loss of funding is a major blow to pediatric research. 'Technology specifically designed for our children, particularly babies across the board, is desperately needed, so losing funding for something like that is a real loss,' he told NBC News. -These cuts, part of Trump's directive to downsize the federal government, come as the administration claims to support new parents and even says it wants to financially incentivize Americans to have more children. -Furthermore, the president recently proposed a $5,000 'baby bonus' for new parents, while the White House has reportedly considered proposals to award a 'National Medal of Motherhood' to mothers with six or more children.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Trump withdraws funding for research aimed at saving babies with heart defect
The Trump administration has revoked funding was for a pioneering heart device designed to save the lives of critically ill infants, only days after it was granted by the US department of $6.7 million grant, awarded to Dr James Antaki and his team at Cornell University on 30 March, was meant to support the next phase of development for the PediaFlow device . The battery-sized pump is designed to help newborns with congenital heart defects survive until they can undergo surgery or receive a on 8 April, the department of defense issued a stop-work order, effectively cancelling the funding without offering a reason. The research team now faces an uncertain future, with Antaki warning that staff layoffs and a halt in development are likely if new funding isn't secured within 90 days.'It's hard to accept,' Antaki told NBC News. 'This is more than a project — it's a mission. We're doing this for the children.'The cancellation is one of several abrupt funding withdrawals linked to broader cost-cutting measures introduced by US president Donald Trump's revived administration. The department of government efficiency, overseen by Elon Musk, has led the charge in slashing academic and scientific grants deemed 'non-essential.'Medical professionals have expressed alarm at the move. 'This device has enormous potential,' said Dr Evan Zahn, a paediatric cardiologist. 'Losing this funding is a real setback for paediatric medicine.'Roughly 1 in 100 babies are born with heart defects in the US each year. With ongoing research, Antaki believes PediaFlow could offer hope to thousands of families — but only if the work is allowed to continue.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trump administration halts funding for research on infants with heart defects
President Donald Trump's administration has halted funding for a team researching how to help infants with heart defects. Dr. James Antaki, a professor of biomedical engineering at Cornell University, tells NBC News that the Department of Defense has cancelled a $6.7 million grant that would allow him to continue researching PediaFlow, a device that could boost blood flow in infants with heart defects. Antaki's device, which he began developing in 2003, is the size of an AA battery and helps increase blood flow to babies born with a hole between the chambers of their heart. The device helps babies survive until they have surgery or receive a donated heart. The agency sent him a stop-work order on April 8 and withdrew the grant, which would have been distributed over four years. The notice, which came one month after the grant was first approved, said the withdrawal was at 'the direction of the Administration.' Antaki's three decades of research on the subject are now in jeopardy, he told NBC News. If funding isn't restored within three months, his lab will need to lay off staff, and the PhD students involved will have to find a new area of research. 'I feel that it's my calling in life to complete this project,' he said. 'Once a week, I go through this mental process of, 'Is it time to give up?' But it is not my prerogative to give up.' Compared to the federal government's budget, Antaki says this grant is a 'small amount of money that could do so much good for so many people.' 'It's just the right thing to do,' he told NBC News. 'It just it kind of speaks for itself.' Dr. Evan Zahn, a pediatric interventional cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center who isn't involved in Antaki's research, said the loss of funding is a major blow to pediatric research. 'Technology specifically designed for our children, particularly babies across the board, is desperately needed, so losing funding for something like that is a real loss,' he told NBC News. This comes after the Trump administration shut down the office responsible for leading the Safe to Sleep campaign, which provided education on safe sleep practices for infants, NPR reports. When the campaign was first launched in 1994, the number of infant deaths decreased by 50 percent and it has subsequently saved thousands of infants' lives, pediatrician Dr. Rachel Moon told NPR. These cuts, which are part of Trump's directive to downsize the federal government, come as the administration claims to support new parents and says it even wants to financially incentivize Americans to have more children. The president recently floated the idea of a $5,000 'baby bonus' for new parents, while the White House has reportedly fielded proposals to bestow a 'National Medal of Motherhood' to mothers with six or more children.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trump administration halts funding for research on infants with heart defects
President Donald Trump's administration has halted funding for a team researching how to help infants with heart defects. Dr. James Antaki, a professor of biomedical engineering at Cornell University, tells NBC News that the Department of Defense has cancelled a $6.7 million grant that would allow him to continue researching PediaFlow, a device that could boost blood flow in infants with heart defects. Antaki's device, which he began developing in 2003, is the size of an AA battery and helps increase blood flow to babies born with a hole between the chambers of their heart. The device helps babies survive until they have surgery or receive a donated heart. The agency sent him a stop-work order on April 8 and withdrew the grant, which would have been distributed over four years. The notice, which came one month after the grant was first approved, said the withdrawal was at 'the direction of the Administration.' Antaki's three decades of research on the subject are now in jeopardy, he told NBC News. If funding isn't restored within three months, his lab will need to lay off staff, and the PhD students involved will have to find a new area of research. 'I feel that it's my calling in life to complete this project,' he said. 'Once a week, I go through this mental process of, 'Is it time to give up?' But it is not my prerogative to give up.' Compared to the federal government's budget, Antaki says this grant is a 'small amount of money that could do so much good for so many people.' 'It's just the right thing to do,' he told NBC News. 'It just it kind of speaks for itself.' Dr. Evan Zahn, a pediatric interventional cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center who isn't involved in Antaki's research, said the loss of funding is a major blow to pediatric research. 'Technology specifically designed for our children, particularly babies across the board, is desperately needed, so losing funding for something like that is a real loss,' he told NBC News. This comes after the Trump administration shut down the office responsible for leading the Safe to Sleep campaign, which provided education on safe sleep practices for infants, NPR reports. When the campaign was first launched in 1994, the number of infant deaths decreased by 50 percent and it has subsequently saved thousands of infants' lives, pediatrician Dr. Rachel Moon told NPR. These cuts, which are part of Trump's directive to downsize the federal government, come as the administration claims to support new parents and says it even wants to financially incentivize Americans to have more children. The president recently floated the idea of a $5,000 'baby bonus' for new parents, while the White House has reportedly fielded proposals to bestow a 'National Medal of Motherhood' to mothers with six or more children.
