1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Government leaders and policymakers must understand the detrimental impact of halting federal funding for the Consortium of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease Researchers (CEGIR). This abrupt disruption risks undoing over a decade of groundbreaking progress in understanding and treating eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs). The consequences will be severe for patients, particularly children suffering from these chronic and often debilitating conditions. CEGIR's research has already led to the first FDA-approved treatment for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and shaped clinical guidelines improving care for thousands of Americans with EGIDs. Losing this vital work jeopardizes the development of further therapies and stalls efforts to uncover the root causes of these diseases. The decision to disqualify CEGIR's renewal application over an administrative technicality, after over 11 years of exceptional returns on investment, is unacceptable. Patients should not bear the burden of bureaucratic inconsistencies. Federal leaders must act urgently to reinstate CEGIR's proposal for full scientific review and restore hope to the EGID community. Sustained research funding is imperative to bring relief and better treatment options to those grappling with these rare, chronic illnesses.