Global Health Research Yields Economic and Medical Gains for the U.S.

Global health research has proven to be a profitable investment for the United States, delivering both economic returns and unexpected medical benefits. A recent case in an ophthalmology clinic showed a U. S. patient using ivermectin—originally developed to treat river blindness in sub‑Saharan Africa—to relieve eyelid inflammation, illustrating how decades of research on neglected diseases can produce new therapies for American patients. Between 2008 and 2024, NIH and other U. S. agencies poured roughly $46 billion into global health, generating $104 billion in economic activity and creating 600,000 jobs. The same research has spurred vaccines for HPV, rotavirus, and shingles, and even informed Washington State’s long‑term care insurance program. Proposed cuts to the NIH 2027 budget could jeopardize these gains, underscoring the need to maintain funding for global health initiatives.