LISTEN: Fewer breakthroughs. Weaker responses to public health crises. That's what some former National Institutes of Health scientists predict for the agency as thousands of researchers leave. Workers from the Washington, D.C., region spoke with 窪蹋勛圖厙 News senior correspondent Rachana Pradhan, and she appeared on WAMUs Health Hub on March 18 to explain whats behind the exodus.
The past year has been rough for the National Institutes of Health, which underwent cuts to its workforce and research funding. Now, the NIH is facing a new challenge: brain drain.
Thousands of employees totaling about 20% of the agencys staff have left in the tumult of President Donald Trumps second term. Some scientists fear this exodus will mean fewer new treatments and diminish the governments ability to respond to disease outbreaks and other public health crises.
窪蹋勛圖厙 News senior correspondent Rachana Pradhan appeared on WAMUs Health Hub to explain why some scientists decided to quit or retire early, and what it could mean for the future of biomedical research in the United States.
Katheryn Houghton contributed reporting.
窪蹋勛圖厙 News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .