The Rally for Medical Research has one urgent purpose: to make funding for the National Institutes of Health a national priority. What began as a single day of advocacy in 2013 has become an annual nationwide movement uniting millions of patients, advocates, researchers, clinicians, and partner organizations.
Last week, a nationwide coalition of nearly 400 medical research advocacy organizations representing millions of Americans gathered on Capitol Hill to thank lawmakers for their longstanding support of NIH and to urge Congress to provide a robust funding increase in Fiscal Year 2026 to safeguard the future of lifesaving medical research.
For Janelle Tobias PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in Parent Lab at UCSF Diabetes Center—who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was 13 years old—the current tenuous climate of funding is more personal than ever. An opportunity sponsored by UCSF's Office of Community and Government Relations, and selected from a competitive field of applicants across UCSF, she was proud to represent Diabetes Center and personally meet with multiple local California House of Representative Members and share her research and the impact of NIH funding.
“A decade ago, I relied on multiple daily insulin injections and finger pricks to manage my diabetes, now I can control my continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump from my phone. NIH funding has improved access to advanced diabetes technology that eases the burden of managing my disease," said Tobias. "As a scientist, NIH investment in my career at the pre- and post-doctoral level through the T32 program has allowed me to advance diabetes research and communicate this science at both local and international conferences."
Decades of NIH funding have already saved millions of lives and changed the course of our deadliest diseases, including Diabetes. Between 2009 and 2017, new diagnoses of diabetes dropped by 35%, while NIH-supported advances such as glucose monitors and insulin pumps are transforming how millions manage the disease and live longer, healthier lives. UCSF Diabetes Center considers this news with temperance, for there is still a long way to go.
For decades, bipartisan support for National Institutes of Health has turned it into one of our nation’s greatest treasures, a commitment which has fueled scientific discoveries and accelerated progress against hundreds of diseases impacting millions of Americans. Now this legacy faces its greatest challenge, as the University of California (UC) system is being threatened with substantial cuts, putting it the spotlight its position as a national leader in biomedical research.
NIH funding is vital to the University of California’s mission, not only because it fuels groundbreaking scientific discovery, but also because it supports public health, economic growth, and educational excellence across the state and nation. UC researchers consistently rank among the top recipients of NIH grants, translating federal investment into medical advancements, startup companies, and jobs. Without stable funding, this innovation pipeline is jeopardized. However, the UC system remains resilient. Through strategic partnerships, advocacy, and a strong track record of impactful research, UC continues to make the case for robust federal support. With growing awareness of the role research plays in national well-being, there is hope that future budgets will restore and even expand NIH funding—ensuring that UC can continue leading the way in solving society’s most pressing health challenges.