1. United States
2. La.
3. Letter

Tulane University is a vital economic engine for Louisiana, contributing $5.2 billion annually to the state's economy, supporting over 30,000 jobs, and generating $88.2 million in tax revenue. The university's research activities, particularly at the National Primate Research Center in Covington with its $107 million impact on St. Tammany Parish, are a driving force behind this immense economic impact. Cutting federal funding for university research would severely undermine these benefits by imperiling crucial studies into cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease and other life-threatening illnesses. It would also lead to job losses across sectors reliant on university success and diminish the pipeline of skilled, higher-income workers Louisiana desperately needs to retain. Universities provide an exceptional return on investment, with every $1 in NIH research funding generating $2.46 in new economic activity nationally and likely an even higher multiplier in cost-efficient Louisiana. Protecting federal support for university research is essential to sustaining Louisiana's economic vitality, prolific scientific output benefiting society, and universities' role as catalysts for growth and prosperity statewide. A strong commitment to funding university research will yield vast dividends for Louisiana's economy and public health for years to come.