Holding Out For A Hero

When we think of heroes, we picture the ones in movies — brave warriors, superheroes, or even an ogre in shining armor. Take Shrek 2, where Shrek storms into battle against overwhelming odds to rescue Fiona. He’s not your typical hero, but that’s the point — heroism comes in unexpected forms. Sometimes, the ones making the biggest impact aren’t the ones we expect — they’re the ones we need the most.

That brings us to the real-life heroes who don’t wield swords or soar through the sky — scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). They may not battle fire-breathing beasts, but they fight deadly diseases — saving and transforming lives. While Shrek stormed a castle, these researchers push the boundaries of medicine, shaping the future of healthcare.

Yesterday’s Research, Today’s Medicine
Founded in 1887 as a small one-room laboratory on Staten Island, NY, the NIH was officially established by Congress in 1930. Since then, it has been at the forefront of groundbreaking studies that revolutionize how we prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases. Many health advancements we now take for granted are the direct result of NIH-supported research:

• Imaging Breakthroughs: MRI and PET scans have transformed how doctors detect and treat medical conditions.
• Heart Health: NIH researchers performed the first successful artificial mitral valve replacement in 1960, laying the foundation for over 182,000 heart valve surgeries performed annually in the U.S. today.
• Pregnancy Tests: The first at-home pregnancy test was developed through NIH research, allowing early detection and access to prenatal care.
• Naloxone Nasal Spray: This life-saving medication rapidly reverses opioid overdoses and has helped reduce overdose deaths.
• Premature Infant Survival: NIH advancements have increased survival rates for premature babies born before 28 weeks from just 5% in the 1960s to over 90% today.

And that’s just the beginning. NIH research has paved the way for cancer treatments that extend lives, revolutionary gene therapies that offer hope for rare genetic disorders, and vaccines that eradicated smallpox and nearly wiped out polio worldwide. Their work touches millions of lives, whether through clinical trials for diseases like cancer, stroke, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s, or by leading the fight against infectious diseases.

NIH’s impact is undeniable — 174 researchers, either at NIH or supported by the institution, have received or shared 104 Nobel Prizes since 2024. They continue to push boundaries in understanding chronic conditions that affect millions of people and their families. Their heroism extends to diseases many people don’t even think about until they or a loved one are affected. From Alzheimer’s to rare genetic disorders, NIH scientists dedicate their lives to uncovering solutions, ensuring that future generations face fewer medical uncertainties.

A Troubling Threat 
President Trump’s proposed funding and staffing cuts at NIH threaten to slow research, delay responses to health crises, and weaken the very institutions that have protected Americans for generations. Scientific breakthroughs don’t happen overnight. They take years — often decades — of tireless work.

Certainly, experts in the field should review programs to identify wasteful or fraudulent spending and find opportunities to improve efficiency. But without proper funding and resources, potential advancements such as in cancer treatments, infectious disease prevention, and chronic illness management could be delayed or lost.

Support the Heroes
Unlike Hollywood heroes, NIH researchers don’t get standing ovations or epic theme songs. They fight not with swords, but with science — running experiments, conducting clinical trials, and solving some of the most complex medical mysteries. Their victories don’t come in dramatic battles but in quiet triumphs — a new treatment approved, a disease contained, a life saved.

Shrek 2’s iconic Holding Out for a Hero plays as Shrek fights against all odds to save Fiona. In real life, we can’t just wait for heroes — we must support the ones already working for us. NIH scientists are racing to solve the next medical challenge, but their work depends on funding, resources, and public trust. Without it, life-saving breakthroughs could be delayed or lost.

Science has already given us so much. The question is — will we give our heroes the support they need to keep pushing forward?

Happy reading,

Enjoy the weekend!

Best,
Suzanne
Suzanne Daniels, Ph.D.
AEPC President
P.O. Box 1416
Birmingham, MI 48012
Office: (248) 792-2187
Email: [email protected]

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