Biomedical engineering professor James Antaki at Cornell University faced a setback when a $6.7 million government grant from the Department of Defense, intended to support the production and testing of PediaFlow—a device designed to enhance blood flow in infants with heart defects—was abruptly canceled via a stop-work order. Antaki, who has dedicated three decades to this research, expressed concern over the lack of funding justification, stating that further funding is critical for testing and regulatory approval. If the funding is not restored in 90 days, he may have to lay off staff and redirect Ph.D. students’ research efforts.
