Foundation Fighting Blindness Urges Prioritization of Vision Research

The Foundation Fighting Blindness urges Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to prioritize vision research as part of the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. Recent actions inadvertently put the future of sight-saving vision science, and treatments for millions of American children and adults losing their sight, at risk.

Beyond the direct impact on Americans who are blind or losing their sight, putting America first in vision research strengthens America’s position as a global leader in innovation, drives economic growth, and enhances national prestige. Therefore, we urge immediate attention to the following critical areas:

1. Research Funding – Ensure that currently-appropriated funds for the National Eye Institute (NEI) and other agencies supporting vision research are fully distributed and prioritized in future federal health plans. Vision research is at a pivotal moment, with breakthrough treatments on the horizon. Without stable investment, critical advances will stall or stop, leaving thousands of American children to experience potentially preventable blindness, threatening older-Americans’ independence, and unnecessarily challenging millions of blind or low vision working-age adults who contribute to the economy and seek greater opportunities to do so in meaningful and powerful ways. Slowing sight-saving research means higher federal health and social-welfare spending.
2. Indirect Cost Cap – Reconsider the proposed blanket 15% indirect cost cap on U.S. universities for biomedical research. While we support efforts to increase efficiency, a one-size-fits-all cap could severely impact U.S. research institutions, limiting their ability to retain top scientific talent, sustain critical infrastructure, and drive innovation in vision science.
3. Agency Staffing – Halt the widespread loss of staffing at NEI, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Drastic reductions at these agencies will significantly slow research and delay regulatory review of emerging treatments, putting sight-saving treatments further out of reach.
4. Preserve the National Eye Institute – Protect NEI as an independent institute dedicated solely to vision research. Dissolving or consolidating NEI into a broader entity will sharply reduce U.S. vision-science expertise, would weaken its specialized focus, disrupt ongoing research initiatives, and weaken America’s leadership in vision science.
5. Protect Transformational Programs such as Whole Eye Transplant Initiative – Ensure continued investment in revolutionary programs such as the Whole Eye Transplant Initiative at ARPA-H, which has the potential to redefine sight restoration for those who are completely blind. Cutting this first-of-its kind program would not only halt progress on eye transplantation itself, but also eliminate the potential for other radical breakthroughs that come from this project. To have the United States at the forefront of the eye transplantation initiative not only earns global recognition but would also gain a significant economic advantage.

As the administration considers policy changes to reduce government spending and improve efficiency, we urge policymakers to protect these critical programs. The Foundation is actively working in Washington to ensure our message reaches the Secretary and other key decision-makers.

Soon we will ask for your help in making our voices heard. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to let your Member of Congress know how important it is to support vision research. Without strong federal support for vision science, the Foundation’s advances will slow, cost more, and critical opportunities to advance treatments may be lost.

Jason Menzo
CEO, Foundation Fighting Blindness