Value of Research Funding Toolkit

November 2025

Toolkit: Value of Medical Research Funding 

About this Toolkit

Since its inception, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has helped Americans live healthier, longer lives. Funding medical research today pays a lifetime of dividends in saving lives, promoting better health outcomes, and improving the quality of life for all Americans.

The time is now to be telling stories about the critical role of NIH funding in cures, treatments, breakthroughs, and patient care.

This toolkit includes user-friendly materials and resources AAMC constituents can use to advocate for and help others understand the value of medical research. 

If you have any questions about these resources, please contact Cate Shockey, AAMC senior director of enterprise communications. 

doctors-research-lab

Telling a Story 

NIH funding fuels the breakthroughs, cures, and careers that define your institution. We need your help to tell your story. Share compelling stories from your faculty and labs to show policymakers and the public why sustained investment in research matters now more than ever.

Use these key messages and infographic to help ground your story. 

Media Storytelling

Local media coverage makes the impact of NIH funding personal and tangible. By telling stories about how medical research funding has a positive impact on local researchers, patients, and jobs, you can help build public support and influence policymakers who are paying close attention to what's happening in their districts.

You can help build public support and influence policymakers by: 

  • Pitching a story to your local newspaper, TV, or radio outlet about how NIH-funded research at your institution is improving lives or driving economic growth in your community. 

  • Highlighting real people—researchers, patients, or staff—whose work or care depends on NIH support. 

  • Writing an op-ed or letter to the editor that explains what’s at stake for your community if funding is not maintained

  • Inviting journalists to tour your lab or meet with faculty and students working on NIH-backed projects. 

Local stories matter, especially to elected officials watching their districts closely.

An op-ed template is available to help you share your story.  Customize it to highlight the impact of NIH funding at your institution and in your community.

The AAMC released a statement on August 1, 2025 on the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill: AAMC Statement on Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill

The AAMC released a statement on May 2, 2025, about the preview of the president’s budget: AAMC Statement on the President’s Budget Request Preview.

Toolkit Materials

Click to download and use the PDF materials below, including key messages about funding for the NIH, a template Op-ed for AAMC Member Institutions to submit to local or regional news outlets, and an infographic showing the value of NIH-funded research at medical schools and teaching hospitals. 

Social Media Advocacy and Storytelling

The sample social media posts below are designed to be easy-to-use and customizable for storytelling by your institutions. Customize them to show how your work is advancing medicine and serving your community. Be sure to tag your elected officials—and the AAMC—so we can help amplify your messages through our advocacy and communications channels. 

Suggested hashtags: #NoCutsToCures #FundNIH

Twitter/X 

    • Lifesaving medical research drives advancements in cancer treatment, Alzheimer's care, gene therapies, and more. Congress must support medical research so Americans can live longer, healthier lives. #FundNIH #NoCutsToCures  

    • #DYK the long-term research funded by the NIH has been behind almost every test, treatment, and cure for patients? At [Institution Name], we [link/explain how your institution is advancing medical research]. #FundNIH #NoCutsToCures  

    • Medical research saves lives and promotes better health outcomes for all Americans. For example, [Insert link or story related to medical research at your institution]. #FundNIH #NoCutsToCures  

    • In FY2024, NIH-funded research supported 407,782 jobs and $94B in economic activity. Medical research doesn’t just improve our health — it grows the economy, too. #FundNIH #NoCutsToCures   

    • The U.S. has long been the global leader in medical research, but other countries are catching up. To retain our global competitiveness, it’s vital for Congress to support robust, steady funding for medical research. #FundNIH #NoCutsToCures  

    LinkedIn/Facebook 

    Medical research today pays a lifetime of dividends in saving lives and promoting better health outcomes for all Americans. For example, [Insert link or story related to medical research at your institution]. Sustained NIH funding enables critical research, advancing progress in areas like cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and other conditions that affect millions of patients and families each year. I urge policymakers to maintain strong funding growth for NIH so that small discoveries can continue to lead to big breakthroughs and deliver future treatments and cures for patients. 

    #FundNIH #NoCutsToCures #StartsInAcademicMedicine   

    Graphics for Social Media

    Download ready-to-use graphics for Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter/X to share across your institution’s channels.

    How to download: Right-click on any image and select "Save image as..." to save it to your device.

    NIH quote (AAMC logo):

    NIH quote (no AAMC logo):

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    AAMC Medical Schools

    Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter

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    schools

    Alzheimer's

    Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter

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    Cancer

    Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter

    Instagram
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    Twitter

    Innovation

    Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter

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    Innovation

    Medical Research Coalitions and Events 

    • United for Cures: United for Cures is a collaborative network of patients, families, and patient advocacy organizations dedicated to protecting life-saving biomedical research.
    • Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research: The AAMC convenes the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research, a coalition of patient and voluntary health groups, medical and scientific societies, academic and research organizations, and industry that support enhancing the federal investment in the biomedical, behavioral, and population-based research conducted and supported by the NIH.
    • Rally for Medical Research: On September 18th, 2025, a broad coalition of groups representing the medical research advocacy community, including the AAMC, will meet with House and Senate offices in Washington, DC to urge members of Congress to make NIH funding a national priority.

    AAMC Action

    The AAMC has launched an AAMC Action grassroots advocacy initiative that mobilizes support for federal investment in medical research. By advocating for strong, sustained NIH funding, AAMC Action helps ensure continued progress in medical breakthroughs, supports healthier communities, and boosts local and regional economies.

    Join the AAMC Action and urge Congress to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health. Your voice helps protect the future of medical research and ensures life-saving discoveries continue. Then, amplify your impact by sharing this message with your network to help build broad support for stronger NIH funding and a healthier future for all Americans.

    AAMC Resources and Information

    NIH Funding Specific Resources 

    Reports: 

    Press Statements: 

     

    Digital Media Resources: 

    • Video: A World Without Academic Medicine 

      As part of Academic Medicine Week, the AAMC produced a new short video that spotlights several of the many medical breakthroughs and treatments that have emerged from academic medicine, asking the viewer to imagine a world without them.

     

    Advocacy Resources: 

     

    The AAMC’s updated non-profit academic health systems and teaching hospitals resource page includes the following: 

    • A data snapshot on clinical benefits of nonprofit academic health systems 

    • An opportunity to share stories that showcase the vital role of nonprofit academic health systems and teaching hospitals in communities nationwide 

    Additional Resources and Information

    The AAMC remains steadfast in its commitment to confront critical challenges to academic medicine. Explore the resources below to learn more and take action. 

    Student Aid 

    Indirect Costs 

    Access to Care