These women dedicated almost 50 years to science. Their efforts may soon be trashed
When nurses Patricia Chubb, 70, and her mother, Charlotte Mae Rohrbaugh, 98, joined the fledgling Harvard University-led Nurses' Health Study in 1976, they had no idea it would last for nearly 50 years.
'It's probably the longest, if not one of the longest, prospective health care studies for women that's ever been done,' said Chubb, who lives in Pennsylvania. 'They picked nurses to do the study because they know how to answer health questions correctly and can draw their own blood and the like — it's very cost-effective.'
Study data gathered through the years from some 280,000 nurses in the United States has contributed enormously to improving how we live. The work has informed dietary recommendations, including national dietary guidelines; led to hormonal therapies for breast cancer prevention and treatment; and contributed to research about how nutrients, inflammatory markers and heavy metals influence disease development.
Yet all of that priceless data may soon be discarded due to President Donald Trump's ongoing feud with Harvard over what Trump claims is a failure to protect Jewish students during campus protests.
On Monday, an investigation by the Trump administration claimed that Harvard was in 'violent violation' of the Civil Rights Act by being 'deliberately indifferent' or a 'willful participant in anti-Semitic harassment of Jewish students, faculty, and staff.'
Harvard strongly disagreed with the administration's claims.
Interestingly, Trump had posted on Truth Social on June 20 that Harvard had 'acted extremely appropriately' during negotiations and that he was close to a 'Deal' with the university that would 'be 'mindbogglingly' HISTORIC, and very good for our Country.'
But then, in the letter sent to Harvard on Monday, Trump officials made it clear Harvard would continue to lose 'all federal financial resources,' including millions for research, if the university did not comply with the administration's wishes.
Funding for the Nurses' Health Study and its companion study for men, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, had already been abruptly withdrawn in mid-May, said Harvard nutritionist Dr. Walter Willett, who has led the studies since 1980.
Willett and his team were left scrambling to find the funds needed to protect freezers stocked with stool, urine and DNA specimens gathered from thousand of nurses for nearly five decades. Just the liquid nitrogen needed to keep the specimens frozen costs thousands of dollars a month.
'Of course, we would all love to have an agreement that lets us get on with research, education, and working to improve the health and well-being of everyone.' said Willett, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, who has published over 2,000 papers on nutrition.
'But this can't happen if we turn over admissions, faculty hiring and curriculum to governmental control.'
Twenty-one-year-old Jackie Desmond joined the Harvard-based study when she graduated from nursing school in 1978. She considered the research so valuable that she later enrolled her 9-year-old son Kyle in a spin-off study investigating family nutrition. At 41, he still participates.
'They send us questionnaires once or twice a year about lifestyle and nutrition, what medications you're on, your lifestyle habits, when you sleep, when you eat, everything,' Desmond said. 'I've sent them samples of blood, urine, feces, whatever they need.' The study even has solicited toenails, which carry markers of heavy metals.
One reason the study was so special is it was only focused on women, said Desmond, who is now 68 and lives in Connecticut.
'Before that, most studies were done only on men. So, it was about time to focus on studying women and they came up with some amazing information that's been very helpful to many of us,' Desmond said.
'You know for that reason alone, these samples are irreplaceable — losing them might put women's health research back many years,' she added.
For Desmond and Chubb, the cuts in research funding make no sense.
'There's no connection in my mind between antisemitism and medical research. Why are you getting rid of decades of research? It's infuriating,' Desmond said. 'And it's very personal — I guess they'll just toss my DNA into the dump.'
The threats to cuts also arrive as the Trump administration pushes its 'Make American Healthy Again' initiative, which Chubb finds ironic.
'You know what? There's lots of research going on to get us healthier and keep us healthier, and those are cuts that should not be made,' Chubb said. 'It's so shortsighted to shoot first and aim later.'
Data from the Nurses' Health Study has vastly improved how all Americans live and eat while also impacting the health of people around the world, Willett said.
'From the efforts of these dedicated nurses we learned trans fats were terrible for health, and now those are basically gone from our food supply,' he said. 'We also found one of the earliest links between cigarette smoking and heart disease.'
Data from the nurses' studies found red meat and alcohol can lead to breast cancer in women. Other key findings also proved lifestyle choices can improve health — the research identified diets that may reduce risk of cognitive decline.
A list of scientific advances produced from the Nurses' Health Study data appears on its website.
Dorothy Dodds, who died at 83, joined the original study in 1976. When her daughter Martha became a nurse in 1982, she joined the second wave of research, called the Nurses' Health Study II. A third generation of the study is still enrolling participants — the Nurses' Health Study 3.
For Martha Dodds, now 68, her family's years of dedication to the study is priceless.
'You know, nurses don't get paid a lot,' Dodds said. 'We do our work because we want to help others. We took the study seriously and were careful and honest with our answers.
'My one little part may have helped women cut down on alcohol consumption, or maybe it'll help both men and women exercise more and cut back on trans fats,' Dodds added.
All of the nurses CNN spoke with consider their years of dedication to the Nurses' Health Study a lifetime accomplishment.
'I'm so proud to be a participant, I'll put it in my obituary,' Chubb said. 'And my 98-year-old mom — who's still got all her faculties, and some of other people's, too — has chosen the Nurses' Health Study for donations in lieu of flowers in her funeral plans.'
Chubb and her mother are in good company. Families of nurses across the country have proudly listed their Nurses' Health Study participation in their obituaries: Karen Ann Mudgett from Michigan, Donna Palmer from Georgia, Jeanette Thomas from Pennsylvania, Mary Ellen Natale from New Jersey, Patricia Anne Cobb from California, Marion Jones from Florida, Irene Rees from Virginia and many more.
'And now these hundreds of thousands of hours of work by nearly 300,000 nurses will just be discarded?' Dodds said. 'We're going to take 50 years of research and all this biodata and just destroy it, make it useless?
'It's like burning the Library of Congress — you just can't get that back.'
Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
16 minutes ago
- CBS News
Colorado says Republican budget bill will cut billions in federal funding for Medicaid in the state
State says Republican budget bill will cut billions in federal funding for Medicaid in Colorado State says Republican budget bill will cut billions in federal funding for Medicaid in Colorado State says Republican budget bill will cut billions in federal funding for Medicaid in Colorado Colorado is expected to lose up to $2.5 billion dollars annually in federal Medicaid funding under the Republican Party's massive tax and spending cuts bill. The measure passed the U.S. Senate Tuesday after Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote. It would extend Republican 2017 tax cuts permanently, increase funding for defense and immigration enforcement and cut funding for Medicaid, food stamps and green energy programs. The Congressional Budget Office estimates it would increase the deficit by about $3 trillion over ten years. The bill now goes back to the U.S. House of Representatives for approval. Among the differences between the Senate and House versions are changes to Medicaid, which provides health coverage for one in four Coloradans. The Congressional Budget Office says the Senate bill will reduce spending on Medicaid by nearly $1 trillion over the next decade, and maybe nowhere will those cuts be felt more than in rural Colorado, where half of all hospitals are already operating in the red. Lincoln Health in Hugo is among them. It is the only hospital on the I-70 corridor for 160 miles. The survival of those who live in the area depends on the survival of the hospital, which also operates family practice clinics, a nursing home and assisted living center. Lincoln Health CEO Kevin Stansbury CBS CEO Kevin Stansbury says those services are at risk under the bill. "We will have to close down some services," Stansbury told CBS Colorado. "And the challenge will be what services are not essential." Stansbury says 80% of the patients at Lincoln Health are on Medicaid or Medicare. The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) -- which administers Medicaid -- says the bill would mean a loss of between $900 million and $2.5 billion a year in federal funding for Medicaid. It says the state would lose another $550 million a year due to a provision that caps a fee many states assess on hospitals at 3.5%. The bill also creates new verification requirements that HCPF says could cost the state $57 million to administer. It says the red tape will also result in thousands of Coloradans losing coverage. The bill requires recipients to provide proof they're going to school, volunteering, or working every month, and provide proof of their income and citizenship every six months. Stansbury says some recipients in Lincoln County don't have internet and will need to travel 80 miles to Fort Morgan to re-certify in person. He says many will drop off the rolls and end up uninsured. "Our patients have to travel to Fort Morgan for in-person revalidation of their Medicaid," Stansbury explained. "You're cutting access to care, which ironically could drive up the cost of care and put more financial stress on hospitals." Stansbury says Lincoln Health expects to lose about 25% of its Medicaid reimbursement under the bill. While it creates a new $50 billion rural hospital fund, he says it's unclear who would qualify for the money and how it would be distributed. "Where you live shouldn't determine if you live," Stansbury said. He notes many of the people who live in Lincoln County are conservatives. "I'm not sure that's what people out here voted for," Stansbury said. "I don't think they voted to have their hospital decimated." Lincoln Health may have to scale back services, but Stansbury says the hospital will survive. "This is a mission for us, and we're going to stick here. We're going to provide care to our patients," Stansbury said. "All we're asking is that we get paid equitably for it." The Senate dropped a provision in the House bill that would have cut federal Medicaid funding by 10% in states like Colorado that use their own tax dollars to cover Medicaid for non-citizens. The bill could also impact Medicare reimbursement. Because it adds to the deficit, it triggers the "Pay As You Go Act," which makes automatic cuts to federal spending. Medicare reimbursement could drop by an estimated 4%. Stansbury says rural hospitals are not only underpaid by Medicaid and Medicare, but by commercial insurers. He says Lincoln Health receives 100% less reimbursement from commercial carriers than hospitals in the Denver metro area. Both the Senate and House bills allow a subsidy program enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic to expire at the end of the year. It caps premiums for those who buy insurance on the Health Exchange at 8.5% of a household's income. People who live in rural or mountain communities could see their premiums double.
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Nurses rally against ‘Big Beautiful Bill' Medicaid cuts
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Registered nurses are teaming up across the nation to push for change. National Nurses United is the nation's largest union of registered nurses. On Tuesday, they planned rallies at lawmakers' offices in eight different states, urging lawmakers to vote against proposed Medicaid cuts in the GOP reconciliation package. Senate passes big, beautiful bill 2 NEWS visited Congressman Mike Turner's office, where dozens of registered nurses showed up to protest against a decision they say could cost thousands of lives. There are almost 80 million Americans enrolled in Medicaid as of March 2025. Medicaid provides healthcare coverage to all types of Americans, including vulnerable populations like the elderly, disabled and children. 'We all know someone who depends on Medicaid, and for many families, this is life or death,' said Irma Westmoreland, National Nurses United vice president. 'For our friends, for our community, for our relatives, Medicaid and Ohio Medicaid provides necessary resources to many, so that they can live a full, productive life.' Specifically, these registered nurses showed up to ask Rep. Turner to vote against the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' Act. They said his initial condemnation of attacks of federal works and co-sponsoring the Protect America's Workforce Act gave them hope that he would stand by them. However, in light of his latest votes and the Senate decision today to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill, nurses are now asking him to make a critical choice. 'We've seen you do what's right, and we need you to stand up with us now more than ever. Representative Turner, do you want to be on the side of billionaire donors, or do you want to support the patients and the loved ones that we care for each and everyday?' said Westmoreland. 2 NEWS reached out to Turner's office for comment and are waiting to hear back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
MAGA law group fights to expose how Biden's DEI agenda may have tainted life-saving organ transplants
A conservative legal group is trying to uncover whether the former Biden administration's focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives seeped into the nation's organ transplant system and led to prioritizing patients based on race. MAGA law group America First Legal is suing a number of federal health agencies to obtain documents related to the nation's organ transplant system. Specifically, they're targeting the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Health Resources Services Administration, in an attempt to compel them to turn over documents related to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). In April 2023, AFL filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking documents relevant to the Biden administration's efforts to infuse DEI into the organ transplant system. However, to date, AFL says it has not received any of the requested information and, as a result, decided to sue in an effort to compel the release of it. "The Biden Administration infected the federal government with 'equity,' replacing traditional principles of fairness and need with race-conscious criteria," said America First Legal Counsel Will Scolinos. "AFL is determined to uncover the complete scope of Biden-era DEI policies and will continue to take decisive action to restore colorblind healthcare." Noem Uncovers And Kills Multimillion-dollar, Biden-era Dei, Lgbtq Program Read On The Fox News App Just days after taking office in 2021, former President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 13985, directing all federal agencies to conduct "Equity Assessments" to determine whether "underserved communities and their members" faced systemic barriers to accessing federal programs. The order also required each agency to develop an action plan to address those barriers. As part of this effort, in December 2021, CMS issued a request to the public for comments on how the agency could "Advance Equity and Reduce Disparities in Organ Transplantation." "CMS is focused on identifying potential system-wide improvements that would increase organ donations, improve transplants, enhance the quality of care in dialysis facilities, increase access to dialysis services, and advance equity in organ donation and transplantation," the agency said at the time. "Communities of color have much higher rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, all of which increase the risk for kidney disease. Black Americans are almost four times more likely, and Latinos are 1.3 times more likely, to have kidney failure compared to White Americans. Despite the higher risk, data shows that Black and Latino patients on dialysis are less likely to be placed on the transplant waitlist and have a lower likelihood of transplantation. Because of these stark inequities, CMS' [Request For Information] asks the public for specific ideas on advancing equity within the organ transplantation system." Blistering Report Calls For Investigation Into 5 'Woke' Hospitals Pushing 'Radical' Agenda With Taxpayer Money Meanwhile, several weeks later, the HRSA announced that the "labeling of race and ethnicity information for organ donors" would "change on a number of data reports available on the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) website." According to the HRSA, the move made the data "clearer, more consistent and easier for users to interpret," and did not impact the manner in which data is collected. OPTN collects and manages data pertaining to the patient waiting list, organ donation, matching and transplantation in the U.S. HRSA also announced a "modernization initiative" for OPTN around the same time, which included plans to strengthen "equity, and performance in the organ donation and transplantation system." In its lawsuit, AFL chronicled a series of delays, non-responses and incomplete communications following its April 2023 FOIA request. AFL is hoping to obtain a judge's order requiring the release of the records it is seeking, as well as an index of any withheld material and explanations for why it could not be provided. "The last administration's pervasive directives requiring consideration of immutable characteristics like race, color, and ethnicity — to make healthcare more 'equitable' — should concern all Americans," Scolinos said Tuesday. "AFL is determined to uncover the complete scope of Biden-era DEI policies and will continue to take decisive action to restore colorblind healthcare." HHS declined to comment on AFL's article source: MAGA law group fights to expose how Biden's DEI agenda may have tainted life-saving organ transplants
