SAN FRANCISCO – Nisha Acharya, an ophthalmologist and professor at UC San Francisco, was caring for a patient who was in the campus clinic when the surprising email arrived.
Her federal research grant had just been fired, according to a Washington Post reporter.
She was unsure. Her research into how the shingles vaccine works did not appear to be remotely controversial. The $3 million grant was the second grant she received after years of similar work. The National Institutes of Health, which was awarded a grant and regularly reviewed Acharya’s performance, was pleased with everything she had accomplished.
Nevertheless, the NIH has vehemently informed that the latest grants are among the latest grants that have ended as the federal government has stopped supporting research focused on “why individuals are hesitant to vaccinate and/or explore ways to improve vaccine interest and commitment.”
Acharya’s research had nothing to do with it.
But mentions of “hesitantness” and “uptake” in her grant application — it appears that some corneal experts would refer to concerns about vaccines for people with shingles on the eyes, was necessary to cover Acharya with a dragnet attached by the Trump administration’s words police.
Acharya fears that the pointless end of Trump administration’s grants will bring back scientific and medical research for the next few years.
(Paul Cloda / Due to the era)
Perhaps “hesitant” and “incubation” generated AI responses or triggered algorithms during the hunt. Although Acharya cannot be completely certain, there is no evidence of being a real person, there is much less type of expert on vaccines and shingles, reviewing grant proposals and assessing her work.
She has not received any explanation beyond that one standard March 10 email sent to the university. “I quickly lost my funds,” Acharya said.
The 47th President’s view, from zero
The randomness of the administration’s actions and their apparent errors are insane enough. But it is also frightening to think that political considerations are guiding science and scientific research, erasing years of effort, thwarting potential treatments, and thwarting future opportunities for groundbreaking treatment.
“I don’t think the government is in a position to direct the important things in science,” Acharya said after lunch at UCSF’s sparkling Mission Bay campus.
She suggested that Trump’s pointless and intermittent policies scare an entire generation of scientists and medical researchers, undermine the quest for knowledge, hurt the public, and negatively affect people’s health “for years to come.”
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Acharya was in high school when she reached the fork on the road. At age 50, she pushed her hands into a “V” shape and explained two passes.
The Acharya grant was worth $3 million over five years of research. She was in her second year of the grant when it was suddenly cancelled.
(Paul Cloda / Due to the era)
At the time, she was a violinist for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and toured the world with the orchestra. She also loved science. Her father was a pharmaceutical chemist. Her mother taught high school math and chemistry.
She was not prepared to commit or accept the inclusive sacrifices needed to build a professional music career, Acharya said. So science became her chosen route.
From Stanford University, she majored in biology and earned a Master’s degree in Medical Services Studies. From there, I went to UCSF Medical School. “I love scientific knowledge, but I really wanted to be able to interact with patients in person,” said Acharya, a self-proclaimed person.
Her favorite professor, who specializes in eye infections and inflammation, led her to an ophthalmology, helping Acharya find the passion for her life. She smiled roughly with Mile’s enthusiasm about her work, her eyes wide, her fingers flapping, her fingers flapping, as if she was summoning Bach or Paganini again.
“The body affects everything about the eyes,” she explained. “If you have an infection, you can see it. If you have an autoimmune disease, you can have symptoms in your eyes. You have blood pressure issues. You can see it. Your eyes really look like a window into your body.”
Acharya’s latest research focused on how the shingles vaccine works.
Shingles is a rash caused by the water coster virus, which also causes chicken pox. Once the chicken po sinks, the virus can remain dormant in the human body for decades before erupting again.
“The initial grant showed that the vaccine is extremely effective in preventing shingles and shingles. “But we haven’t reached the question of what happens if you already have shingles on your eyes?”
Acharya said that no one else had done it, aimed at preventing loss of vision and blindness. She was not emphasized repeatedly. Attempts to promote vaccinations were once entangled with the layers of political, social and cultural debate, or therefore entangled with no one being vaccinated.
“This is the kind of research I think the government wants. Safety and effectiveness… pros and cons,” Acharya said, giving her a small, bewildered shaking in her head. “We just wanted to put the information out there so people could use it.”
Now, that guidance will not be available anytime soon.
If there is.
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Acharya was not politically active. Her life and career are dedicated to promoting science, she said.
While she tilts left, she has never been married to any party or ideology. Acharya agreed, as did Democrats and Republicans, and found reasons to disagree.
She did not vote for Trump, but she did not see her support for Kamala Harris as a position of any kind for scientific investigation, or as a way to protect her grant. “It never crossed my heart,” she said.
Acharya messes up a 1954 book signed by renowned ophthalmologists and researchers in the UCSF conference room.
(Paul Cloda / Due to the era)
The five-year grant paid 35% of Acharya’s salary – she was approaching the end of her second year – and although the loss of income is not significant, she manages. “I’m a professor and I’m a doctor too,” she said. “I’m not going to lose my job.”
However, Acharya has been forced to fire two data analysts, and the third research job is at risk. Her voice thickened as she discussed those letting go. At one point, she seemed to be fighting back against her tears.
“I’ve been crying with my team,” she said of the soft conversations in the airy cafeteria-style bistro. “I keep it together…I’m still…I’m still taking care of the patient. I’m still teaching. I can’t lose it.
In its enthusiasm to dismantle the federal government, it appears that more is being driven by political calculations and vengeance preferences rather than more well thought out designs – the Trump administration has ended hundreds of grants and research focusing on addiction amidst Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, covid-19, mental health services, and other scientific tracing.
The hundreds of millions of dollars already spent are wasted. The results of all that research came from a grape grape suddenly collapsed.
According to Acharya, it is impossible to calculate the loss. It’s painful to try. “Everything you might not have learned,” she meditated, telling. “All potential benefits” may be unrealized.
The notice of termination received by the UCSF from the National Institutes of Health appealed to Acharya for 30 days if he believed the decision to close the study was made incorrectly. She did.
A few days later, the university received a pro-forma email recognising Acharya’s appeal.
Nothing ever since.
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