The Cost of Progress: Funding, Pharma, and the Future of Hematology – A dialogue between Robin Foà e Filippo Milano

In this episode, Prof. Robin Foà and Dr. Filippo Milano reflect on a striking paradox: while research has revolutionized hematology over the past decades, the sustainability of this progress is now in question. Innovation has transformed patient outcomes, yet rising costs and shrinking public funding threaten to slow the pace of discovery.The discussion highlights the growing crisis of academic support, from declining NIH grant success rates in the United States to shifting governmental priorities in Europe. As public investment contracts, the pharmaceutical industry has taken a leading role in driving research—reshaping priorities toward larger markets and increasing the financial burden of clinical trials. At the same time, the soaring costs of advanced diagnostics, such as next-generation sequencing and measurable residual disease monitoring, risk widening disparities in access to care across countries.Philanthropy emerges as a crucial, though complex, pillar sustaining research—whether through major private donations in the US or collective funding models like AIRC in Italy. The episode closes with a sober reflection on how geopolitical tensions further fragment scientific collaboration, reminding us that progress in hematology depends not only on discovery, but on shared commitment and global cooperation.A thoughtful and timely conversation on the future of innovation in our field.