Funding Cuts Threaten Cancer Immunotherapies
Researcher Miriam Merad warns that NIH funding cuts may hinder life-saving cancer research, particularly in the development of new immune cell-based therapies.
Merad, an oncologist and director of the Precision Immunology Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has dedicated her career to understanding the dual powers of immune cells, including T cells and macrophages, to improve cancer treatments.
Macrophages are nicknamed the guardians of the body, known for detecting and clearing damage from organs and tissues, but they can also undermine immune cells that attack tumor cells by weakening inflammation.
The NIH funding cuts, which amount to 40% of grant dollars, pose a significant concern for Merad and her research.
Author's Summary
NIH funding cuts threaten to derail cancer immunotherapy research.
- Funding cuts: 40% of NIH grant dollars
- Impact: Life-saving cancer research and development of new immune cell-based therapies