The scientific community is navigating a period of significant uncertainty. Recent administrative decisions have led to budget cuts and policy changes that threaten the continuity of critical research programs — including those focused on pandemic preparedness, HIV vaccines, autoimmunity, immune deficiency, and food allergy. While some of these cuts are being challenged in court, the future remains uncertain, and the potential impact on our work is substantial.

In response, we are pursuing new funding mechanisms and partnerships to continue this important research. The NIH has long been a cornerstone of scientific discovery in the U.S., but as support becomes less predictable, we’re being challenged to think creatively about how to sustain our efforts.

As part of that, I’ve committed to a personal challenge: running six World Marathon Majors in 2025 — Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, New York, and (pending confirmation) Chicago — with the goal of completing Tokyo in 2026. It’s a symbolic effort that reflects the persistence and endurance needed to keep science moving forward — and a way to raise awareness and support for research that matters.