I've done worse. :) In fact, one could argue that billions have been similarly spent. Reproduce-ability is a precious thing. If you find something that is unexpected, with a minimum of a 3-fold change, and reproducible, drop everything.Lastly, lab work has still been stalled. I got positive results last week, and then failed to replicate it yesterday, wasting $500+ in reagents in the processes.
Cost to medicare / medicaid of Alzheimer's is >$150 billion. If it could promise a cure, you could double the NIH budget and save a decade's worth of money in two years. Sadly no matter how much they decide to spend, I'm still just leeching off of cancer grants. Hopefully that changes this year. I'm looking at a max of 6-fold, and a lot squinting at 2-fold. It's got me hopeful, but now starts the follow-up...In fact, one could argue that billions have been similarly spent.
If you find something that is unexpected, with a minimum of a 3-fold change, and reproducible, drop everything.