LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Together, we can continue to save lives through scientific research

Without a doubt, 2025 has been the most challenging year for science in my 30+ year career. The current delays, cuts and threats to federal scientific research funding are not just fraying nerves, they are hindering our ability to execute our mission to protect you, your family and the global community from the threat of infectious disease.  

Texas Biomed, as a nimble, independent, nonprofit research organization, is in a better position than many to weather this storm. For the past eight years, we have been actively diversifying our funding sources so that we are less reliant on grants from the National Institutes of Health, the nation’s leading funder of biomedical research. By balancing discovery research with contract research partnerships, we are better able to fuel innovation and keep the lights on. This diversification is essential for the sustainability of a nonprofit research enterprise and is a key part of our Strategic Plan.

I am concerned about the lasting consequences for our nation. You often hear the statistic that for every dollar invested in scientific research, America gets back $2.56 in economic activity, making it the best spent of taxpayer dollars. Investment in the research enterprise has made us the envy of the world. Nobel Prizes – while just one metric of success – were once dominated by researchers from Europe, particularly from Germany and the U.K. Since World War II, America has prioritized research and development and now far outpaces competitors in scientific prizes by a factor of three to one. Correlation is not causation, but it is fair to argue that supporting fundamental research is a vital part of generating truly impactful discoveries and innovations.

Funding cuts don’t only mean less science, they also mean fewer jobs. I fear a whole generation of potential innovators will be lost…

Dr. Larry Schlesinger

I am even more concerned for our early-career researchers – graduate students and postdocs. Funding cuts don’t only mean less science, they also mean fewer jobs. We will lose talent to other industries and countries. I fear a whole generation of potential innovators will be lost as a career in scientific research becomes too uncertain to pursue.

That’s why what we do at Texas Biomed continues to be so important – conducting research, training the next generation and educating the community so they too can advocate confidently for science. Importantly, we constantly think about how to turn the current challenges we face into new opportunities for the Institute and pivot as needed.

As you read this year’s TxBiomed magazine, I hope you will see how decades of vaccine research are paying off with saving millions of lives around the world from deadly threats like Ebola virus. See how we are providing resources to answer common questions around vaccines. See how we are bolstering the skills of budding San Antonio scientists. See how we are connecting our researchers with real patients, so they can better appreciate the impact their days spent in the lab can have on our neighbors.

We also are taking a moment to celebrate some major milestones: 25 years of maximum containment research in our biosafety level 4 lab and 40 years of research looking at how a pregnant mother’s diet affects offspring throughout their lives. Each of these accomplishments is impressive in their own right, but nowhere else will you have BOTH happening at the same place. Texas Biomed’s specialized expertise and resources make us truly one of a kind.

None of this would be possible without the incredible team of people who are here day in and day out, working to improve the health of our nation and the world. You can read about several of them here, here and here. Thanks to the efforts led by our Human Resources team and the active involvement of so many across campus, Texas Biomed was named one of the Best Places to Work in San Antonio. This is a real honor because it is based on feedback directly from our team members.

We could not succeed without you – our community. Your generosity and enthusiasm for our mission, our science and our education programs is amazing. It is with your help that we can recruit the best scientists, fund pilot studies, purchase critical equipment and welcome students for hands-on training. Now, more than ever, your continued support and generous philanthropic contributions will ensure that we stay strong and continue to grow during these turbulent times. I have hope and optimism that together, we will continue to save lives through scientific research.

With sincere gratitude,