Federally Funded Research Nourishes and Protects America

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This story will appear in the spring 2025 issue of UC San Diego Magazine as “To Nourish and Protect.”

Scientific research may seem abstract, but when supported by federal funding, it profoundly impacts every American — from quiet rural fields buzzing with pollinators to hospitals pioneering lifesaving cancer therapies. As a scientist at UC San Diego’s School of Biological Sciences, I have seen firsthand how federal investment translates into real-world solutions, safeguarding our agriculture, health and daily lives.

Take honey bees, for example. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, my laboratory has developed an approach known as immune priming, which activates honey bees’ natural immune system and helps them resist a major pathogen called Nosema ceranae. Why bees? These tiny insects provide pollination services worth over $15 billion annually to U.S. agriculture, ensuring one-third of the food on your table. Our research demonstrated that immune-primed bees showed lower infection levels and better survival, and we hope that this will contribute to the health of bee colonies and secure our nation’s food supply.

And speaking of food, most of us are familiar with canola oil, which can be found in countless foods worldwide due to its health-conscious properties. Research funded by the National Science Foundation and conducted in Martin Yanofsky’s lab at UC San Diego identified a gene that dramatically increases the canola seed yield. Farmers nationwide and around the world are now able to take advantage of Yanofsky’s breakthrough, allowing them to increase yield while at the same time using less land and water resources.

Federal investment has similarly driven game-changing advances in cancer treatment. At UC San Diego, the National Institutes of Health supported scientists Arshad Desai, Karen Oegema and Andy Shiau, who pioneered new strategies to disrupt cancer cell division. By targeting specific molecules involved in this process, their work provides promising new paths for effective cancer treatments that spare healthy cells — bringing hope to millions of Americans battling cancer.

Together, these stories illustrate how federally funded science delivers extraordinary benefits — from protecting vital pollinators and boosting agricultural productivity to sustaining the health of our loved ones. When America invests in science, we invest in a brighter, healthier future. So, next time you snack on a honey-roasted almond or popcorn cooked with canola oil, thank federal research — and maybe give a little nod of appreciation to the bees. After all, they flew about 55,000 miles and visited 2 million flowers to make 1 pound of honey, and they could sure use the love.

Learn more about the impact of breakthrough research at UC San Diego.