As the clock ticks on Congress’ agreement to temporarily avert the fiscal cliff, the authors write that we must ensure any attempt at a resolution does not include drastic cuts to investments in early stage research, the fuel of Massachusetts’ economic engine. Massachusetts continues to be home to the top five NIH-funded independent hospitals: Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Boston Children’s Hospital.