On Sept. 18, members of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center community joined hundreds of physicians, scientists, and patients to meet legislators on Capitol Hill and advocate for medical research at the annual Rally for Medical Research.
This year's Rally brought together over four hundred participants from more than forty states, the largest Rally since the event began in 2013 in response to threatened cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget.
"Educating policy makers about the need to have a robust budget for the NIH is so important," says Ross Frommer, vice president of government affairs at CUIMC, who helped organize the Columbia contingent. In addition to meeting policymakers in person, Frommer encourages researchers to reach out via phone, social media, or legislators' websites (www.senate.gov and www.house.gov).
The importance of advocacy is especially high this year. The Presidential Budget Request for FY 2026 has proposed a reduction in NIH funding of roughly 40%, though the United States Senate and the House of Representatives have both proposed small increases.
"We rally because research equals progress; it drives innovation, leads to better care, and improves health outcomes. As health care providers, we have a responsibility to advocate for policies grounded in evidence, to protect our patients, and uphold their right to safe and effective care," says Erica Wong-Ciriachi, a student in the School of Nursing who met with Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and staff in the offices of Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Representatives Tom Suozzi, Hakeem Jeffries, Ritchie Torres, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
On Capitol Hill, the CUIMC contingent consisted of nineteen students, faculty, and staff from Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, School of Nursing, and Mailman School of Public Health, as well as colleagues from the Morningside and Manhattanville campuses. It was the largest representation by any one organization at the Rally. Armed with personal stories about the impact of medical research on people's lives, the delegation met with legislators and staff of the New York Congressional delegation and others to stress the importance of NIH funding.
"The collective outcomes funded by NIH are the backbone of health care in America. The Rally for Medical Research empowers citizens to personally connect with Congressional representatives in order to make our voices heard. It was an amazing privilege," says Mary Purcell, senior manager of communications and programs at the Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, who met the staff of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Representatives Nicole Malliotakis, Grace Meng, and Adriano Espaillat.
"Medical research represents hope for a better tomorrow for our patients, and the NIH is a critical partner in developing the next generation of physician-scientists to enable the cures for tomorrow," says Jay Vyas, associate dean for academic innovation at VP&S, who also helped organize the trip. "I believe that when we share our personal stories of NIH's impact on our training, research, and patient care, we can make a difference."
References
The Columbia contingent
In addition to Ross Frommer, Jay Vyas, Erica Wong Ciriachi, and Mary Purcell, the Columbia delegation consisted of:
- Edward Bentlyewski, assistant director of research nursing and quality assurance, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Ashley Chastain, senior project director, School of Nursing
- Sebastian Cota, student, Mailman School of Public Health
- Charles Emala, Henrik H. Bendixen Professor of Anesthesiology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
- Frederick Ehlert, associate professor of medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
- Guy Garty, associate professor of radiation oncology, Center for Radiological Research, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
- David Gruskin, student, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
- Lisa Iannaci-Manasia, instructor, School of Nursing
- Charmagne Jones-Gail, associate director of academic programs, Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health
- Briana McRae, student, Zuckerman Institute
- Nathan Robb, associate vice president of government and community affairs, Columbia University
- Danurys Sanchez, senior staff associate, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center
- Mimi Shirasu-Hiza, professor of genetics and development, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
- Kathryn Varghese, postdoctoral residency fellow, Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
- Giulia Zanni, assistant professor of clinical medical psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
