Reader viewopinion Cutting valuable medical research in our own backyard

Arlene Lund and her husband have dedicated years to a longitudinal study at the University of Washington Alzheimer’s Research Center, which involves extensive assessments to contribute to dementia research. They were informed at their recent appointment that the grant for this study expired, leading to significant staff cuts and uncertainty about its continuation. Lund links these funding issues to broader cuts in health research initiated by the Trump administration and Robert Kennedy, Jr. She passionately calls for local legislators to fight against these detrimental funding cuts, which risk a wealth of knowledge that could benefit future generations. Their personal experience underscores the importance of this research, as both have lost family members to dementia.

The potential loss of the study would not only affect them but thousands of others involved in similar medical research. Lund urges that the fight for research funding be a priority for legislators, emphasizing the collective impact of such cuts. The research conducted at UW-ARC could lead to significant advancements in understanding and treating dementia.