Initiative mobilizes member stories to strengthen support, visibility and research funding
OCTOBER 9, 2025 — To ensure policymakers see the human impact behind federal research funding, BMES has launched its “Pipeline to Progress” campaign, inviting members to share breakthrough stories that connect research funding to real-world patient care. From pacemakers and contact lenses to neural interfaces and cancer detection tools, the initiative seeks to demonstrate the direct impact of biomedical engineering on health, the economy and global innovation.
The campaign comes at a critical moment for the field. A July 2025 AIMBE survey of 55 biomedical engineering departments found that 71% experienced grant terminations since January, and 45% anticipated reducing graduate student enrollment this fall. BMES survey data further underscores the urgency: 84% of professionals say they are ready to mobilize to demonstrate their field’s impact, representing 88 areas of research spanning tissue engineering, neural interfaces, transportation safety and infectious disease.
“We’ve definitely had some NIH grants that were terminated. We’ve had a lot of grants that are delayed either in the review process or just sort of in limbo as new levels of review were added or policies were changed after grants were submitted or even funded. I think that it is really challenging for folks to plan and to sustain their research,” said 2025 BMES President Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert, Ph.D., professor and vice dean of research and graduate education at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
From Individual Voices to Collective Impact
Biomedical engineering has long been at the forefront of innovation but often behind the scenes when it comes to awareness. BMES seeks to change that by coordinating member stories into a national campaign, highlighting how federal funding translates into patient outcomes, workforce growth and global competitiveness.
The stakes are significant. According to United for Medical Research, biomedical research generates $2.56 in economic return for every federal dollar invested and contributes $94.58 billion in economic activity. In 2024, the field also powered $36.8 billion in medical equipment exports, according to US Import Data, underscoring America’s global leadership in health innovation.
BMES invites biomedical engineering professionals to contribute their stories at www.bmes.org/pipeline-to-progress. Submissions may highlight patient outcomes, research breakthroughs or career experiences that illustrate the importance of sustained funding.
Collected stories will be shared with policymakers, stakeholders and the public, creating a unified narrative that links today’s funding decisions to tomorrow’s life-saving technologies.
One story can be overlooked, but hundreds cannot. Together, BMES members have the opportunity to create a collective voice that lawmakers cannot ignore.
Share your breakthrough story today.