MILWAUKEE — Amid ongoing cuts and freezes to funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 3D Molecular Design, a family-owned business in downtown Milwaukee, is preparing for the worst-case scenario.

Visitors to the company’s downtown headquarters can find 3D models of various molecular structures designed to enhance research and learning in classrooms across the country.

The company relies heavily on NIH grants, describing them as crucial to its operation.

Over the past 25 years, the business has received funding through various programs totaling almost $4 million.

Currently, 3D Molecular Design holds three active NIH grants, and two new proposals have been halted in the grant review process.

“The uncertainty is really hard right now,” said Heather Ryan, CEO of 3D Molecular Design. “We have to brace ourselves that our current grants could get canceled at any time.”

This uncertainty is a reality many researchers across the nation are facing as the Trump administration freezes grant applications and terminates funding in some cases.

“Figuring out how we can operate without that money is a big problem for us right now,” Ryan explained. She emphasized that if funding cuts occur or if current NIH grants are canceled, the company may have to reduce staffing levels.

“We will have to reduce our staff by six positions, which is really unfortunate for all of the people we’ve been working with for a really long time,” Ryan said.

Watch: ‘The uncertainty is really hard’: Milwaukee business faces NIH funding woes

Funding uncertainty hits Milwaukee’s 3D Molecular Design

In addition to providing employment, the company offers internships to local students, granting them vital hands-on experience in the field.

Ryan pointed out that without the molecular models they produce, learning experiences in classrooms across the nation could also be compromised.

“These impacts are going to be felt for years to come,” Ryan warned. “Across the board, I hope policymakers consider these long-term impacts—both on business and science.”

As 3D Molecular Design navigates these challenges, the company remains hopeful it can continue contributing to the education of the next generation of scientists.

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Breaking: It’s difficult to play against the NBA’s best teams. Just ask the Milwaukee Bucks.

Milwaukee dropped another game to an elite opponent on Sunday, falling 112-100 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was their second straight loss, their second game in as many nights, and, perhaps most notably, their fourth loss to Cleveland this season.

The Bucks briefly held an 8-7 lead after a Damian Lillard three with 9:58 remaining in the first quarter—but never led again. Meanwhile, Cleveland flirted with double-digit leads starting midway through the second quarter and never really looked back.

The win marked a season sweep for the Cavaliers, who took all four contests against the Bucks. It also continued Milwaukee’s season-long struggles against the NBA’s top teams.

According to Cleaning the Glass, Milwaukee is a grim 3-14 against teams with a top-ten point differential this season. For context, that’s tied for the fourth-fewest wins against such teams, only ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets, and Washington Wizards. Not exactly elite company.

The Bucks are being outscored by a staggering 13.6 points per 100 possessions in these games—good for 26th in the NBA.

Their defense, typically mediocre, falls apart against top-tier competition. They allow 114 points per 100 possessions overall, a middle-of-the-pack number. But against elite teams, that number jumps to 119.7, dropping them to 18th.

A big reason is pace. The Bucks struggle when teams push the ball in transition and force them to defend in space.

Their roster is built around size and rim protection, but they lack the collective foot speed and perimeter discipline to handle quick ball movement and elite playmakers. Opposing offenses carve them up, forcing breakdowns and exploiting mismatches.

The bigger problem, though, is offense.

Milwaukee averages 115.6 points per 100 possessions on the season, just above league average. Against top-ten teams? That figure plummets to 106.1—27th in the league. That’s not just bad; it’s bottom-of-the-barrel territory.

They don’t hit shots. They don’t rebound their misses. They don’t get to the free-throw line. If there were an official checklist of ways to make scoring as difficult as possible, the Bucks seem to be working through it diligently.

The fundamental issue, however, is playmaking—or a lack thereof.

Lillard and Antetokounmpo are the only two Bucks who can reliably create shots for themselves and others. The rest of the roster has been built to complement their skill sets, not to initiate offense independently.

That becomes a problem when Milwaukee’s offense grinds into isolation mode, as it so often does in tough games. The ball sticks, movement stalls, and the Bucks are left with five guys watching one player try to manufacture a miracle.

Defenses salivate at this setup.

They can key in on a predictable, stationary target, set their help, and force Milwaukee’s stars into a gauntlet of loaded rotations. Giannis can still power through defenders like a battering ram, but even he has limits when the entire defense is tilted toward stopping him.

The Bucks need answers—and fast.

Their March schedule is a gauntlet, with six more games against teams with top-ten point differentials. If recent trends hold, it could get ugly.

Captain Obvious here: If Milwaukee wants to win a championship, they’re going to have to figure out how to beat good teams.

Iron sharpens iron, and the Bucks need to embrace the grind. No magic wand is coming to fix their offensive structure, defensive woes, or crunch-time decision-making. They can either treat these March battles as a proving ground or risk entering the playoffs as an overpriced, overhyped paper tiger.

The talent is there. The question is whether the Bucks can find a way to make it all fit before it’s too late.

The Milwaukee Brewers lost some offense this offseason in the form of Willy Adames.

He was fantastic for the Brewers last year and was a huge reason why Milwaukee was able to win the National League Central. The Brewers aren’t going to have him in 2025, but another superstar should be able to pick up the slack.

Christian Yelich is capable of being one of the best overall players in the National League when healthy. Last year, he slashed .315/.406/.504 with 11 home runs, 42 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases. Yelich only was able to play in 73 games, though.

He dealt with a back injury and there were some questions about whether he would be ready for Opening Day or not. Things are trending in the right direction and he’s gotten some Spring Training game action. He’s DH’d and also has played in the field. Yelich also launched his first home run of the spring on Saturday.

Yelich discussed his progress and had nothing but good things to say, as shared by MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy.

“It’s always good to have positive steps, whether it’s a home run or not,” Yelich said as transcribed by McCalvy. “If it’s a good at-bat, or you feel like you’re putting good swings on balls, or being on time, that’s what you look for in Spring Training.

“Obviously, you’ll always take the home runs. It’s cool to prove to yourself that it’s still in there and stuff like that. But you’re just trying to build the timing back, the rhythm, just being comfortable being back in the box in a game environment. We’ve still got a ways to go this spring, but each day has felt better, which is nice.”

If Yelich is healthy in 2025, the Brewers should be really good.

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