Can U.S. science funding cuts spark collaboration? A Perspective
The proposed NIH cuts are forcing tough conversations—but they could also accelerate smarter, more collaborative approaches to translational science
The U.S. government’s proposed science funding cuts have left many academics and biotech start-ups reeling as they face an uncertain future with few clear ways to stay afloat. Yet amid the anxiety, there’s a glimmer of possibility: that this crisis could usher in greater alignment across the research and innovation ecosystem — from academic investigators and translational biotechs to VCs and pharmas.
The idea that disruption, however painful, can drive progress — “In the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity,” as the often-quoted (but dubiously sourced) Einstein line goes — served as a touchstone for discussions at BioCentury’s 2nd Grand Rounds-U.S. R&D conference, held June 4–6 in Chicago. The event brought together stakeholders from across the biomedical landscape to debate bottlenecks in translation, explore cutting-edge science, and find ways to keep innovation moving in a resource-constrained environment...