Researchers, advocates and community leaders gathered in Center City on Friday for the Stand Up for Science 2025 March, to push their call to restore federal funding for biomedical research and protect scientific progress.
Stand Up for Science is a volunteer, grassroots operation, united in its belief that science is for everyone and benefits everyone. The rally, which culminated at Veterans Plaza, brought together about 2,000 people, including scientists and policymakers who highlighted the critical role of science in society.
The timing of the event was strategic. On Friday, the Senate was in session in Washington, D.C., while members of the House of Representatives were home in their local districts, allowing advocates to directly engage with policymakers.
Speakers included Dr. Montserrat Anguera, an epigeneticist and associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine. “I run a research lab investigating why so many autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect women,” Anguera said. “One of my grants is currently in limbo due to the NIH crisis, disrupting my program and slowing down essential research.”
NIH funding is a major component in supporting research at Philadelphia universities. The region’s schools receive more than $1.7 billion from the NIH, according to the Inquirer. Penn alone receives nearly $1 billion.
‘Science serves society’
City officials also lent their voices to the cause. Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke emphasized the importance of public investment in science, saying, “The National Institutes of Health, which has saved millions of lives, is now under attack — along with the institutions and experts who made those breakthroughs possible. As policymakers, we must recognize that science serves society.”
Councilmember Rue Landau echoed this sentiment. “Philadelphia stands up for science because we understand its impact on our communities,” she said.
Dr. Melina Blees, site director of BioLabs Philadelphia and a strong supporter of the rally, expressed disappointment over the ongoing NIH funding crisis, which has frozen $1.5 billion from the U.S. biomedical research enterprise since January.
BioLabs Philadelphia, a biotechnology incubator space on Walnut Street, provides support to early-stage companies, many of which rely on federal research grants to innovate and grow. “What lacks in this country is basic scientific understanding, and this is hurting us,” Blees said.
The rally also spotlighted the broader implications of funding cuts beyond academia. Dr. Alyn Turner, sociologist and Senior Research Director for Research for Action, warned, “If we don’t stand up for science, critical funding for scientific research will be threatened and removed. The very systems that support our understanding of the world and our progress will be dismantled.”
The event concluded with a call to action for Congress to reinstate NIH funding and prioritize investment in scientific research. Participants emphasized that the stakes extend beyond laboratories and universities — scientific progress is essential for public health, economic growth, and societal well-being.
