Neeta Thakur, a University of California-San Francisco professor and a doctor, is the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration over canceled research grants. (University of California-San Francisco)
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Neeta Thakur, a University of California-San Francisco professor and a doctor, is the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration over canceled research grants. (University of California-San Francisco)
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Neeta Thakur, a University of California-San Francisco professor and a doctor, is the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration over canceled research grants. (University of California-San Francisco)” data-image-caption=”
Neeta Thakur, a University of California-San Francisco professor and a doctor, is the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration over canceled research grants. (University of California-San Francisco)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/indiacurrents.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Thakur-copy.jpg?fit=300%2C169&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/indiacurrents.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Thakur-copy.jpg?fit=780%2C439&ssl=1″ />
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
As smoke from wildfires increasingly impacts communities, understanding the factors that exacerbate health risks, particularly within disadvantaged communities, is crucial. This article highlights how physician-scientist Neeta Thakur is battling to protect critical research funding aimed at addressing these disparities. Here are the key takeaways from her fight, with significant implications for Indian Americans and others concerned about environmental justice and the future of scientific research.
1. **Research Under Attack:** Dr. Neeta Thakur, a pulmonologist at UCSF, became the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration’s efforts to eliminate research grants focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, viewing the cuts as an attack on science with lives at stake.
2. **Focus on Environmental Health Disparities:** Thakur’s research, supported by an EPA grant, explores the impact of increased wildfire smoke on low-income communities and communities of color, which already face heightened pollution exposure.
3. **Action Prompted by Funding Cuts:** Following abrupt funding cuts, Thakur and other researchers initiated the lawsuit to demonstrate the harm inflicted on public health and public health research, emphasizing the importance of these studies for vulnerable populations.
4. **Impact on Research Outcomes:** Preliminary findings from Thakur’s study reveal that wildfire smoke can trigger breathing emergencies in children days after exposure, underscoring the need for timely safety messaging and better treatment strategies.
5. **Trump’s Stance on DEI Programs:** Former President Trump blocked federal funding for DEI programs, stating they prioritize “how people were born instead of what they were capable of doing,” leading to the cancellation of over 400 grants totaling $2 billion.
6. **Judge Temporarily Blocked Grant Terminations:** U.S. District Judge Rita Lin issued a preliminary injunction temporarily blocking the grant terminations by the EPA, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Science Foundation, allowing the UC grants to be reinstated pending the lawsuit’s outcome.
7. **Personal Motivation for Health Equity:** Inspired by her upbringing in a mixed-income neighborhood, Thakur’s research aims to understand how living conditions and experiences impact health, driving her commitment to addressing health disparities.
8. **Morale Impact on Researchers:** The uncertainty surrounding research funding has led junior researchers to question their career paths, with some considering leaving academia due to the instability and lack of support for health equity and climate change-related expertise.
Neeta Thakur’s fight is not just about research funding; it’s about ensuring that science serves all communities, particularly those most vulnerable to environmental hazards. Her experiences as an Indian American physician-scientist provide a unique perspective on the intersections of race, class, and health. Read the full story here.
This text was edited with the assistance of an AI tool and has been reviewed and edited for accuracy and clarity by India Currents.
The post 8 Key Insights: Neeta Thakur’s Fight For Environmental Justice Impacts Indian Americans appeared first on India Currents.
