Every family deserves a voice and just a few months ago, the American Brain Tumor Association had the opportunity to join hundreds of patients, caregivers, survivors, and fellow advocates to rally on Capitol Hill in support of strong National Institute of Health (NIH) funding.
Our collective voice urged Congress for $51.3 billion for medical research, a consistent ask since 2024. For the fiscal year of 2027, the administration proposed around $6 billion in cuts, decreasing NIH funding to about $41 billion. An estimated 1% (roughly $489M) was budgeted just to support brain tumor research.
ABTA board members Chad Schafer and Laura Aguilar (center) rallied with fellow advocates Heather Liebhauser, ABTA 2026 Juliana Schafer Spirit of Hope Award recipient, Sabine Schwab, Kim Bourbeau, Miranda Dell’Accio, and Jessica Ditkowsky to raise their voices and share their own personal journeys to members of congress and the senate throughout countless states to support the future of critical research funding.
ABTA advocate Kim Bourbeau (center) speaks with Dawson Glenn (left), a representative from the office of Florida Senator Ashley Moody, during a congressional meeting on Capitol Hill as part of the 2026 Rally for Medical Research. Fellow advocate Julie Owens (right) joins the conversation as advocates share their perspectives and discuss the importance of federal support for medical research.
“We may have walked nearly 10,000 steps, but there are hundreds of thousands more families relying on NIH funding for more time, more hope, and better treatments.” – Kim Bourbeau, Advocate
Every patient, every caregiver, every researcher, every advocate has a story. To the doctoral candidate who has to pause their research due to lack of funding that we can’t wait for soon enough, to the patient waiting on approval for a trial that can lead to just even one day longer with their loved ones, to the caregiver fighting for funding on treatment that will help keep their family closer for just a little longer. It’s that hope, that humanity, those stories, that remind us why we rally.
We rally because we deserve another day. Every family deserves access to life-changing treatments and clinical trials. That’s why it is critical to invest in science so we can fuel the future of research and discovery.
Advocacy is one of the core pillars of the American Brain Tumor Association because we understand what is at stake for the families we serve. Sharing our stories helps lawmakers understand why research funding matters and what it means to have more time with someone you love. By continuing these conversations, we encourage the next generation to speak up. We can build a better future for everyone affected by a brain tumor.
Learn more about how to get involved today: https://bit.ly/4sOmeqY
