Nobel laureate, elected officials warn of threats to science

Several federal, state, and city officials from Washington state and Seattle participated in a March 10 event at the National Nordic Museum to honor David Baker, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Washington School of Medicine who received the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

The event celebrated Baker’s groundbreaking contributions to biomedical research. However, amid the celebration, Baker and other speakers raised concerns over growing uncertainty surrounding federal support for scientific research. They warned of long-term consequences for the next generation of scientists and the nation as a whole. 

Before reprising the Nobel Lecture he gave in Stockholm, Baker reported that recent instability in federal science funding is already having detrimental effects. 

“It might be surprising to many people that most of the innovation doesn’t actually happen in the big companies; it happens at universities,” he said. “The universities also train the workforce for the biotech and pharmaceutical companies.”

Baker detailed how funding uncertainty is forcing universities across the country to cut back on graduate school admissions, thereby reducing opportunities for aspiring scientists.

 “In my department,” he said,” the acceptance rate—the number of students admitted—has gone down by more than a factor of two, and that’s true across the country. It’s going to be much harder next year for students who want to pursue careers in science to become scientists.”

Hiring freezes and delayed grant renewals are also disrupting research labs at UW Medicine and across the country, Baker explained.

 “The cumulative effect of this uncertainty is way out of proportion to the amount of funding saved. Instead, it just wreaks havoc on a system that has to behave conservatively,because it can’t pay people if there isn’t money coming in,” he said

Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) sent messages of congratulations that also underscored the critical role that scientific discovery plays in the region and across the country.

“Dr. Baker has said proteins are the workhorses of all living things,” Gov. Bob Ferguson noted. “We recognize and celebrate Dr. Baker as a workhorse himself. His scientific advancements continue to contribute significantly to biomedical research. Federal funding makes this kind of vital research possible. We must work to protect it.”

Sen. Murray spoke about the importance of ensuring that scientists and researchers in Washington state and across the country have the resources they need to succeed.

 “Dr. Baker's groundbreaking work has already led to life-changing medical breakthroughs, including the first-ever computationally designed COVID-19 vaccine developed at UW Medicine in Seattle,” she said. “This is exactly the kind of scientific advancement that federally funded research makes possible.” Calling on policymakers to protect and expand research investments, she pointed out that scientific breakthroughs “don't happen overnight and don't happen without strong, sustained funding.”

Murray added, “Now more than ever, we need everyone to speak out and fight for the federal funding and policies that support NIH and critical research. When we do, we fuel scientific discoveries, job creation, and better health outcomes for all Americans.”

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell presented Baker with the Key to the City in recognition of his contributions to science and his roots in Seattle, where he attended local public schools as he was growing up. After completing his undergraduate and graduate education, Baker returned to lead pioneering research at the University of Washington School of Medicine. 

Harrell said, “It is my honor to present Seattle’s Key to the City to Dr. David Baker, a Nobel Prize winner whose groundbreaking work has advanced science and improved lives around the world. The Key to the City is a symbol of our community's highest respect and gratitude, reserved for individuals who have made exceptional contributions to society. His achievements not only bring immense pride to our city but also inspire future generations to pursue discovery and innovation.” 

Lāth Carlson, executive director and CEO of the National Nordic Museum, welcomed a diverse audience, including leaders from Washington’s biotech industry, University of Washington officials, local elected representatives, donors, and scientific leaders.

 “Celebrating a Nobel is just perfectly in line with our mission here at the museum,” he said. “The only reason that we collect the stories, the objects, and the histories that we do is because we want there to be a better future for everyone. Dr. Baker's lab is making that future happen right now.”

Written by Ian Haydon, UW Medicine Institute for Protein Design

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