Dr. Peter Bridgman, a retired neurologist living with cancer, is actively seeking to restore funding for federal cancer research agencies. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2013, Bridgman has become a passionate advocate for increased financial support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as they face potential cuts impacting critical research.
At 72 years old, Bridgman has been receiving treatment that has allowed him to manage his condition effectively. He expressed gratitude for the infusion therapies that are sustaining his life but voiced grave concerns about the implications of recent funding cuts. The NCI, in particular, is threatened by a staggering 37 percent cut to its budget, a reduction that caught officials by surprise. “NIH and the NCI expected small cuts like five or ten percent, but they were completely floored by the 37 percent cut to the NCI,” Bridgman stated. He emphasized that ongoing research may be jeopardized, potentially leaving patients without necessary advancements by the time they need them.
In response to this critical situation, Bridgman has taken to his community in Yarmouth, going door-to-door to gather signatures for an online petition aimed at restoring funding levels to what they were before the cuts. “In order to save lives, we have to restore funding to close to what it was before,” he asserted. Bridgman warned that fluctuating funding could drive researchers abroad, causing a detrimental loss to the U.S. research landscape. “They’ll go to the European Union. They’ll go to China, and we’ll lose all of that. It would take decades to build it back, so that’s the risk. That’s the serious risk.”
Bridgman’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by his neighbors. John Auble, a local resident, expressed his support: “Overall, I think cancer is underfunded. So every time we have somebody who is willing to put in the time that he does, it’s really touching. We need more Peters.”
As part of his advocacy, Bridgman, alongside members of the American Cancer Society, plans to deliver the collected petition signatures to the office of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in Portland on December 2, 2023. After presenting the petition, they will await Congress’s return to discuss the future of cancer research funding.
Those interested in supporting Bridgman’s cause can learn more about the petition at fightcancer.org. The outcome of this campaign could significantly influence the landscape of cancer research and treatment options available for future patients. Bridgman’s commitment highlights the urgent need for sustained financial support in the fight against cancer, which remains one of the leading health challenges globally.
