The current administration’s drastic cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) medical research grants will have a severe and lasting impact on pulmonary fibrosis (PF) research. Pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating disease that causes scarring in the lungs and results in the deaths of over 40,000 Americans each year. As a primary funder of PF research, the NIH provides over $120 million annually, supporting groundbreaking studies through grants awarded to universities, research institutes, and small businesses. A cap on research costs is a cap on progress, jeopardizing critical discoveries and putting patients’ lives at risk.

The NIH is the largest federal funder of PF-related research and awarded more than 200 grants in 2023 alone. These funds support essential research—from early investigations into new treatments to clinical trials that bring therapies to patients. The NIH has been instrumental in advancing PF knowledge, improving diagnostics, identifying risk factors, and developing treatment options.

NIH funding has propelled vitally important investigations like the PANTHER trial, a turning point for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) that redefined the standard of care, reducing harm and likely saving countless lives. Its findings paved the way for more rigorous PF studies including the NIH-funded PRECISIONS trial, the first to explore how genetic variants influence patient responses to targeted medications.  

Genetics research is key to unlocking new treatments for PF. NIH-funded studies help identify genetic markers that predict disease progression and treatment response. A reduction in NIH funding risks deprioritizing genetics research, an area that is both complex and resource-intensive, slowing progress and endangering lives.

Fueled by NIH research funding, the U.S. has become the global leader in PF research. Cutting this support threatens to diminish American leadership and undo years of progress. Without sustained investment, life-saving treatments will be delayed, leaving patients with fewer options and little hope for a cure.

Sincerely,

Scott Staszak, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

Wayne T. Pan, MD, PhD, MBA, Chair of Board of Directors, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

Amy Hajari Case, MD, FCCP, Chief Medical Officer, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

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About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

The mission of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is to accelerate the development of new treatments and ultimately a cure for pulmonary fibrosis. Until this goal is achieved, the PFF is committed to advancing improved care of patients with PF and providing unequaled support and education resources for patients, caregivers, family members, and health care providers. The PFF has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and is an accredited charity by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance. The Foundation has met all of the requirements of the National Health Council Standards of Excellence Certification Program® and has earned the Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency. For more information, visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 844.TalkPFF (844.825.5733).