Scientific breakthroughs begin with basic research, which relies on extramural funding from federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as from organizations like the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. These funding sources support research in biological sciences that span molecules to ecosystems, demonstrating the power and promise of sustained investment in science. Our work, in turn, lays the groundwork for future discoveries, drives innovation, and deepens our understanding of life on Earth.
