Scientists were already planning a march on Washington to protest against recent policy changes and a perceived devaluing of their work.
And then the draft budget was released.
The 62-page document outlines many severe cuts to medical research and healthcare, among other industries and services.
It’s important to note that it’s just a draft at this point, congress will need to approve all aspects of the budget. Which is why groups such as the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) are urging citizens to rally their State representatives against the proposed funding plan.
This is what happens to the @NIH budget if the President's proposed budget is approved. Urge your reps to reject it https://t.co/CXDgGvhmXy pic.twitter.com/giyGeo1W9o
— FASEB (@FASEBorg) March 16, 2017
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
For scientists and non-scientists alike, here are some of the key figures to remember. The data have been pulled directly from the budget blueprint and visualized by Cecilien Dambon at Venngage, a Toronto-based graphic design software company that develops consumer-friendly tools for infographics, data visualization, business reports, and charts.
Photo: RichVintage, Getty Images
