CELEBRATION OR SEQUESTRATION

Last weekend I was in DC for "A Celebration of Science." This event was organized by Michael Milken, who founded the Prostate Cancer Foundation that funds some of my research.

The weekend's festivities were designed to shed light on the importance of science. Specifically, this event was designed to remind stakeholders - lawmakers, scientists, voters - that science is the best investment a country can make. This is because science funding creates jobs; science funding promotes the careers of young investigators and encourages even younger investigators to enter into scientific fields; science funding leads to new discoveries that launch new companies and drug development; finally, science funding leads to new treatments and cures that reduce health care costs, improve patient survival and productivity, and increase national competitiveness.  The arguments were straightforward, but they were sprinkled with passion and a few tears.

When I began medical training in the mid 90s, HIV was a death sentence. However, patients with HIV are now living long and living well because of combination anti-retroviral treatment. We met the Berliner patient. This man was HIV positive. Then, he developed leukemia that required a bone marrow transplant from another individual after high dose of chemotherapy. Not only was his leukemia cured, but so was his HIV. He is the first and only person to be cured of HIV. Let's hope he is not the last.

We met Winter Vinecki, an amazing 13 year-old whose dad died of prostate cancer at an age close to mine- 40.  After his diagnosis, Winter decided that she had to do something. Therefore, she began running races to raise money for prostate cancer research. In the last three years, she has raised over $300,000 for prostate cancer research. Her goal is to run a marathon on every single continent, and she is already on her way. 
What a hero!

At nearly every event, Democratic and Republican lawmakers were in attendance.  They spoke of the importance of science and progress. The Democrats talked about how funding must be expanded and not just kept at its current level. Eric Cantor, the House Majority Leader, however, demurred and did not offer any specifics. Surprise. Surprise.

If a budget agreement is not reached before the end of the year, the budget will go through a process called sequestration. This means that defense spending will be cut, and all non-defense spending will be cut by 8% per year. This includes science funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Because of Washington's dysfunction, sequestration seems imminent.

However, despite the reality of a shrinking budget and the failure of Washington to lead and invest in science, I am more motivated than ever to find new treatments and an eventual cure for cancer.  People like Winter, the other researchers, private foundations, the leaders of the NIH, and receptive congressmen give me hope. They all understand that life only improves through scientific investments.

We saw living proof of what science funding can do this weekend, and it is time for us all to decide what our health is worth. Write your Congressman and Senator! Take an active role in this decision! It is not only your health that is at stake but the health of our entire nation and the world.