Chilling Documents That Shake And Stir

I have been in Cambridge for the past month and recently came across three important documents I want to share with you. This is scary stuff, so I’ve included some instructions.

First, grab a cup of coffee and read this:
hms.harvard.edu/public/news/nih_funding.pdf

Next, if you want to know how this is playing out in the labs, have a second cup and read this:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/content/business/epaper/2007/03/19/0319scripps.html

And finally, if you want to know how this will affect your future, and that of your children, forget the coffee and pour yourself a stiff one to read this:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/03/alzheimers_cases.html

As an advocate for Alzheimer’s research, I realize The Unforgettable Fund is not even a drop in the bucket for what’s needed to run a lab but it’s SOMETHING - over $21,000 is a lot of money for one small website to generate. But it’s nothing compared to what’s needed to solve the complex puzzle of Alzheimer’s disease. Come on - do we exercise and eat right and watch our cholesterol and avoid fatty foods and get a good education and wear our seatbelts and pay our taxes so we can reach old age without a single memory of having done so?

Our brightest minds battling our most horrific diseases have become the charity cases of the 21st century. What! Funding science is not charity, it’s the duty and obligation of our nation’s government to provide for the health of its people. But what if they refuse? What if they just say no? What if they aren’t listening? It’s up to us to make them listen.

Why isn’t it common knowledge that our Alzheimer’s labs are being forced to fire their employees? Why isn’t it common knowledge that our cancer labs are being forced to let people go? You would think our government would be gearing these scientists to fight the battle for the health of the nation.You would be wrong.

I don’t know about you, but I find the funding situation at the NIH outrageous and appalling and I plan to do something about it. If you want to know what I plan to do, please send me an email with contact information, you may want to join me. All suggestions are welcome here and I'll be more than happy to post the best ideas of the bunch. For instance, how about a National Take Your Parent To Work Day. How quickly corporate America would get it if our demented parents came to spend the day...

I refuse to believe this funding situation can’t be changed. Please help. Please think. Please share.