UC San Diego Unites to Support Life-Saving Research

The UC San Diego community united on Feb. 20 in support of life-saving biomedical research at an on-campus advocacy event organized by the UC Advocacy Network, UC San Diego Government and Community Relations, the Associated Students of UC San Diego’s External Affairs Office and the Triton Lobby Corps.

The event was in response to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announcement earlier this month of a new plan to drastically cut funding, including more than $150 million annually at UC San Diego. This funding is essential for maintaining lab space, equipment, utilities and other critical infrastructure that bolsters scientific discovery. Such cuts would have a significant impact on our research mission, our regional economy and workforce, higher education as a whole, and our ability as a nation to lead and compete in science and technology on the global stage.

“The proposed rate cuts would have a devastating impact on our campus community,” said UC San Diego Associate Director of Federal Relations Carl Welliver. “If these cuts are implemented, we will lose what makes this university system so unique, limiting opportunities for life-saving research and workforce pathways for students."

At the pop-up event, visitors scanned a QR code that led them to the UC Advocacy Network campaign site, where they could enter their name, home address, and customize a message about the cuts and their impact for their lawmakers.

U.S. Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, who represents California’s 51st congressional district, and CEO of UC San Diego Health Patty Maysent attended the event, connecting with students, faculty and staff about the importance of making their voices heard and underscoring the importance of vital research conducted at UC San Diego.

“UC San Diego is one of the country’s biggest recipients of NIH grant funding, which helps drive their innovative biomedical research forward,” shared Jacobs. “Cutting off this funding could jeopardize life-saving treatments and cures and stifle our college-to-career pipeline in San Diego. That’s why I’m doing everything I can to reverse these harmful and short-sighted policies – from supporting lawsuits to doing my constitutionally mandated oversight.

Welliver noted that, while many respondents at the pop-up event would likely connect with California’s 50th congressional district representative, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (whose district receives the most NIH funding anywhere in the country, in large part due to UC San Diego) and U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, they are hoping to reach as many federal policymakers across the country as possible. “We hope to let Members of Congress know we care about these issues and we will not back down,” he shared.

UC San Diego’s advocacy is driving action on this vital issue. Welliver noted that, as of Feb. 21 at 3 p.m., a total of 1,355 people sent 3,637 emails to their federal lawmakers, one of the highest-response actions that the UC Advocacy Network has seen to date.

For anyone who wasn’t able to make it to the event, consider taking a minute to advocate for the importance of science and research in our society by visiting the University of California Advocacy Network website.