A Half-Century of Women's Health Research at Risk

For nearly 50 years, nurses across the United States have been part of a groundbreaking study. They shared their health data, giving scientists valuable insights. This research has changed how we understand health. But now, this work is in jeopardy. The Nurses’ Health Study started in 1976. Nurses like Patricia Chubb and her mother joined early on. They didn’t know the study would last so long. But it did. It became one of the longest health studies ever done. Nurses were chosen because they know how to answer health questions well. They can also draw their own blood. This made the study cost-effective. The study has led to big changes. It helped shape dietary guidelines. It also led to new treatments for breast cancer. The data has shown how nutrients and heavy metals affect health. All this work could be lost. Why? Because of a dispute between Harvard and the Trump administration. Trump claims Harvard didn’t protect Jewish students well. Harvard disagrees. Now, Harvard is losing federal funding. This includes money for the Nurses’ Health Study. The study has collected samples from thousands of nurses. These include blood, urine, and DNA. Keeping these samples frozen costs a lot. Without funding, the samples could be lost. This would be a huge setback for women’s health research. Nurses like Jackie Desmond have been part of the study for decades. She has sent in samples and filled out questionnaires. She believes the study is invaluable. Losing the data would be like losing years of progress. It would put women’s health research back many years. The study has led to important discoveries. It showed how bad trans fats are for health. It also linked smoking to heart disease. The research has improved lives not just in the U. S. , but around the world. Losing this data would be a huge loss for science. Nurses like Martha Dodds have dedicated years to the study. She believes her work has helped others. She hopes her contributions will lead to better health for many. But now, all this work is at risk. It’s like burning a library full of knowledge. You can’t get it back.