title: In defense of basic science funding: today's scientific discovery is tomorrow's medical advance.
abstract: In this address, I will discuss the importance of basic science in tackling our health problems. I will also describe how the funding cuts are damaging our economic competitiveness and turning our young people away from science.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tessier-Lavigne
mesh_terms: D002017:Budgets; D005380:Financing, Government; D006801:Humans; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D012586:Science / Q000191:economics*; D014481:United States