Elizabeth Ginexi Defends Science
Democracy and science are linked. You can't have a vibrant scientific community if you don't have a vibrant democracy.
Elizabeth Ginexi served as a scientific program official at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for 22 years. During that time, she stewarded taxpayer investments in biomedical and behavioral research. An applied social psychologist by training, Liz's work spanned historic public health initiatives, from building the scientific framework for FDA tobacco regulations to developing non-pharmacological pain treatments for veterans.
When the administration began dismantling NIH, Liz took an early retirement rather than comply with antiscientific directives. She's since become a fierce advocate for the Addiction Science Defense Network and scientists everywhere. She's put her analytic talents to work by writing about the internal collapse of the world's premier biomedical research agency.
Countering Antiscience with Activism
The politicization of NIH represents an intentional power shift threatening the long-term health and economic stability in the United States, as well as its role as a leader of global scientific research. The freeze on communications and funding, irresponsible use of AI in grant review, and removal of autonomy from the NIH's 27 institutes has effectively neutralized the agency's operational capacity.
The immediate implications at NIH included a reduction in annual Notice of Funding Opportunities from 756 in 2024 to 14 as of March 2026. They lost over 4,800 employees and hired less than 300, most of which were in January 2025. This downsize threatens an economic engine that created more than 400k jobs and generated over $94 billion in economic activity in 2024, while pushing scientists to consider moves abroad.
The most serious consequences aren't likely to be felt for many more years when novel cancer treatments and cutting edge vaccines haven't been developed to keep pace with evolving medical challenges facing humanity.
Despite the obvious dangers, many outside the scientific community remain unaware of this grim outlook while scientists struggle with the idea of becoming activists. Nonetheless, the perceived expectation of strict neutrality is no longer viable.
Scientists must take their cue from historical catalysts for societal change, such as Rachel Carson, whose environmental advocacy in Silent Spring ignited the modern environmental movement. After the Roman Inquisition labeled Galileo a heretic and sentenced him to a life under house arrest, he is said to have uttered, "And yet it moves." Galileo continued writing and later had his works smuggled to Holland for publication.
Scientists should not carry the burden of science advocacy alone. The funding vacuum left by the federal government should be viewed as strategic opportunity by business and industry. By directly investing in biomedical research and financially supporting science advocacy, stakeholders can help sustain U.S. innovation and push society forward rather than standby awaiting collapse.
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Elizabeth Ginexi
Read Liz's writing on Substack.
Learn about the important work of the Addition Science Defense Network.
Get involved! Stand up for science!
Learn more about what concerns scientists most.
Dr. Angela Rasmussen and Jessica Malaty Rivera, MS
Sean Michael Newhouse
Adithi Ramakrishnan
The Boston Globe
Michael T. Nietzel
Associated Press
Matt Motta; “We Want to Put Them in Trauma”: Understanding the Trump Administration's Attack on Government Health Agency Regulatory Authority. J Health Polit Policy Law 1 April 2026; 51 (2): 191–209. doi: https://doi.org/10.1215/03616878-12262624
Tracking NIH Awards in FY 2026. (2026). Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). https://www.aamc.org/about-us/mission-areas/biomedical-research/publication/tracking-nih-awards-fy-2026