A Letter from our President

February 10, 2025

Dear BRI Community,

We have built incredible momentum over the past year. That progress is thanks to you — the donors, research participants and team members – who believe in our mission and work tirelessly to achieve it.

Your support has helped us launch BRI’s Innovation Fund, which brings together scientists with different expertise to implement new technologies and ask questions that neither scientist could answer alone. The fund is already making a big impact: scientists are bringing on new technologies that can be used across BRI and are generating preliminary data for larger grants.

"This could be the year these teams make major breakthroughs."

Jane Buckner, MD

Another accomplishment we’re proud of is launching our autoimmune disease clinical screening study, funded by the Jolene McCaw Family Foundation. This study examines how to implement screenings for type 1 diabetes (T1D), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune diseases into primary care. It’s the first time we’ve done this type of screening, and it’s an important step toward detecting autoimmune diseases, starting treatment early, and ultimately moving us closer to prevention.

We’ve also spent the past few years building a strong foundation for some of our newer research collaborations that are investigating gut immunity, Down syndrome, T1D, RA and lung diseases to name a few. I believe this could be the year these teams make major breakthroughs.

While the coming year brings exciting possibilities, it also brings uncertainty. Sources of research funding may change in the coming year, particularly those from government sources such as the NIH. Cuts in governmental support of immune research could impact our progress. That’s why we need our community now more than ever.

As we face uncertain times, we need our donors, research participants, team members and greater community to keep showing up for BRI. Making donations, attending events, participating in research, telling friends about our work — these actions accelerate our progress and keep BRI resilient. They fuel discoveries that change lives.

Looking forward, one thing is certain: Immune diseases will still be a major health issue. I want you to know that no matter what hurdles we face, we will never stop working toward our vision of a healthy immune system for everyone. That vision creates purpose for our team. It has built a community with shared joy in being part of something deeply meaningful. You, our BRI community, give me hope that we can one day make it a reality.

Sincerely,

Jane Buckner, MD
President, Benaroya Research Institute

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