Protecting NIH funding protects Athens

Illustration by Chris Pomeroy

By Emily Mayville

The United States has long been the epicenter of public research, supported in part by two institutions: the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Combined, these institutions invested $783 million in Georgia in 2024. The University of Georgia, consistently recognized for its high-tier research, received $76 million in federal grants in 2024. Our gridiron rival in Atlanta, Georgia Tech, is consistently among the nation’s top recipients. Earlier this year, the executive administration announced major cuts to the NIH and NSF budgets, which will have a direct impact on the Georgia economy. Investment in University research by the NIH and NSF helps launch startups in the Athens-Clarke County area, leading to job creation and economic growth for all Georgia residents. Jobs created as a direct result of NIH funding are not limited to highly specialized roles; funding received additionally contributes to supporting maintenance staff, HR, hazardous waste disposal, and contractors, just to name a few. 

Originally from Roswell, GA, I have always known that I was meant to be a scientist. I chose to earn my bachelor’s degree at UGA specifically because of the Pharmaceutical Sciences program, which prepares its students to be professional researchers. During my time at UGA, I participated in undergraduate research focused on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This virus is particularly devastating for our most vulnerable populations, like infants. It was important for me to know that the work that I was doing would lead to improvement in public health. Now, we have a safe and effective vaccine against RSV, and its development is a direct result of the NIH. 

Today, I am earning my PhD at the University of Utah. I continue to pursue projects that have direct implications for public health, and even though I’m now nearly 2,000 miles from Athens, I am continuously humbled by the opportunities awarded to me by the UGA scientific community. I participated in a study abroad program and was able to intern at one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, and my experience and training at UGA prepared me to pursue a Master’s degree at a top university abroad. Neither of these experiences would have been available to me were it not for NIH investment in our scientific community. 

While I can personally attribute much of my academic success to federal funding, the Athens-Clarke County economy also clearly benefits. According to the NIH, every $1 it invests translates to $2.50 in economic growth for the local community. For a community with such a large research institution, this means tens of millions of dollars circulating through housing, consumer goods and services for Athens. As a major research hub for the state, Athens will feel the loss of federal funding at both the university and local levels if NIH and NSF cuts are sustained. 

Apart from the clear economic impact of federal investment in science, there is of course the science itself. Prior to the rollout of an effective vaccine, RSV was responsible for about 100,000 infant deaths globally. Now, we can expect a significant reduction in infant hospitalizations and deaths worldwide. Outside of healthcare, there have been tremendous advancements in technology; we have gone from reluctant integration of the internet to seamless use of artificial intelligence in a matter of a generation. For most of us, this advancement is essentially magic and happened overnight, but none of it would have been possible without the researchers and scientists who dedicate their lives to technological advancement, and the funding that supports their efforts. 

The advancements in medicine and technology that we are fortunate to experience here cannot easily be found anywhere else. It’s hard to find another institution that has contributed as much to public health and technology in as much of a positive way as the US. We cannot rely on other nations to fill our shoes. American science remains at risk as long as the NIH and NSF budgets are subject to reckless cuts. I have personally experienced my colleagues and mentors seeking positions outside of the US in order to continue their research endeavors. In order to keep American science in America and to prevent economic fallout from a loss of funding, it’s absolutely crucialthat we encourage our representatives, regardless of party, to resist budget cuts and to support America’s position the world leader in science and technology.

Emily is a University of Georgia alumna who was raised in Roswell