America's great research universities have long been at the forefront of advancing scientific exploration while giving birth to many fast-growing technology companies and creating local ecosystems of innovation. The best and brightest students around the world flocked to America for the opportunity to study in these institutions. But a combination of increasing wealth in other nations plus the disincentive of U.S. immigration restrictions has changed the relative ranking of life sciences research universities. Only eight of the top 20 remain in the U.S. with five in the U.K. and others in Japan, Canada, Australia and Singapore. Students no longer feel compelled to come to the U.S. to receive a first-rate education with lucrative job prospects. What are the implications for America's global role in the 21st century? What is the impact of research funding from the NIH and private industry? What changes are coming in the way research is conducted?