Lorri Angelloz
At the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), researchers are pushing boundaries in science and health amid growing uncertainty about the future of federally funded innovation. In an era of political gridlock, shifting federal priorities, and rising public mistrust in institutions, scientific research in the United States faces increasing scrutiny. The risk: a slowdown in progress just when bold solutions are needed most.
At UMB, the message is clear: Breakthroughs can’t wait.
That urgency is at the heart of a new multimedia campaign launched this spring. Titled “Breakthroughs Can’t Wait: Changing the Future Today,” the initiative highlights why continued investment in discovery is essential and urgent — not someday, but now.
Featuring the groundbreaking work of UMB scientists, the campaign shows how research leads directly to real-world improvements in health, medicine, and quality of life — and calls attention to the public investment that makes these advances possible.
“Scientific progress doesn’t happen in the abstract,” said UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS. “It happens here and now, and it’s powered by public support. We want people to see how this work affects their lives — and why continued funding matters.”
The campaign spans all seven UMB schools, featuring short videos, deep-dive interviews, and stories that bring the human side of research into focus. The scientists featured aren’t just chasing knowledge, they also are developing tools and treatments that could reshape the way we respond to some of society’s most urgent health crises.
Take, for instance, the work of Allan Doctor, MD, and Joga Gobburu, PhD, MBA, who are on the cusp of developing the world’s first shelf-stable artificial blood. The innovation could allow first responders to treat severe bleeding at the scene — including car accidents, natural disasters, or combat zones — when every second counts. Or the work of Luana Colloca, MD, PhD, MS, who uses virtual reality to activate the brain’s natural pain relief pathways, opening new possibilities for non-opioid treatment of chronic pain.
Other research spotlights include:
- Addiction Treatment Reimagined: Sarah Kattakuzhy, MD, is conducting a clinical trial to test whether semaglutide, a diabetes and weight-loss drug sometimes marketed as Ozempic or Wegovy, could help people struggling with cocaine use disorder.
- Building Resilience Early: Lisa Berlin, PhD, MS, is working to strengthen the long-term health and well-being of children through science-based parenting support.
- Movement as Medicine: Ian Kleckner, PhD, MPH, is examining how exercise may reduce chemotherapy-induced nerve pain, offering new hope to cancer patients.
- Rebalancing the Body: Paul Shapiro, PhD, and Jeffrey Hasday, MD, are developing a new class of drugs to stop inflammation and prevent serious diseases.
- Old Drug, New Promise: Abraham Schneider, DDS, PhD, is studying how the diabetes drug metformin might stimulate bone regeneration in the face and skull, offering new and affordable treatment options for people recovering from facial trauma, surgery, or severe dental disease.
Each profile highlights the science and the systems that enable it — from federal grants to cross-campus collaboration. This foundation allows researchers like Ahmed Sultan, BDS, PhD, who is blending artificial intelligence with clinical care, and Jay Unick, PhD, MSW, whose work with the IRIS Project connects evidence-based recovery services directly to the communities, to drive innovation forward.
“Breakthroughs Can’t Wait” makes it clear: Breakthroughs don’t just happen in the lab. They happen through collaboration, commitment, and a belief that science can improve lives. At a time when the value of expertise is often questioned and public trust in science can feel fragile, the campaign serves as a showcase and a reminder. Behind every data point is a person. Behind every breakthrough is a network of support — public, institutional, and political. And that support, UMB asserts, is more critical now than ever.
New researchers and discoveries are featured weekly on Instagram at @UMBaltimore. To learn more, visit www.umaryland.edu/breakthroughs.
