Global Down Syndrome Foundation Respectfully Opposes Major Cuts to Medical Research Our President’s Budget

March 16, President Trump submitted a partial outline of his fiscal year 2018 budget to Congress that proposes to reduce federal funding for biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $5.8 billion.  This represents an unprecedented 20% funding cut.  The Global Down Syndrome Foundation urges Congress to work with the White House reverse this proposed cut and instead continue efforts to expand NIH research that will help improve the lives of individuals with Down syndrome and all American citizens.

“We were just starting to make progress in terms of understanding why people with Down syndrome are so predisposed to Alzheimer’s disease and immune system disorders, and why they are protected from most cancers, heart attacks and stroke,” said Michelle Sie Whitten, Co-Founder, President and CEO of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. “This cut would be a major setback. I believe we speak on behalf of the overwhelming majority of the Down syndrome community when we urge our friends and supporters on both sides of the aisle to protect the NIH budget.”

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation is the internationally recognized leader in research and medical care benefitting people with Down syndrome. If these funding reductions go unchallenged there are three probable outcomes:

1) New investigators who have finally been attracted to Down syndrome will abandon their research
2) Investigators just starting research will close labs
3) Establish investigators will be lured to other fields and Down syndrome research will be disseminated

This would be a major setback to the Down syndrome community. Contact your Senators and Representatives to tell them you support them restoring these critical federal research funds.

The submission of our President’s budget blueprint to Congress is the first step in the process to fund federal programs for the budget year beginning October 1. Congressional hearings on the budget are expected to continue through the fall. Global will be closely engaged in every part of the congressional budget process and provide the Down syndrome community with updates and action alerts when we need your help in voicing support of research to Congress. Together we can make a difference and make sure we continue on our path to better health for our families.