I will begin this Vertical Transmission by hoping that you and your families are all healthy and well, and coping during this very confused and frightening time. Microbiology and public health are certainly at the forefront of community and government attention at this time, and rapid solutions are being sought to deal with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Unfortunately, funding for discovery research that will provide the required solutions for this and other microbial threats is lacking. For this reason, the ASM Executive (Dena Lyras, Roy Robins-Browne, Kate Seib, Anthony Baker, Rebecca LeBard), together with Mark Schembri, Jonathan Iredell, Priscilla Johanesen, Enzo Palombo, Cheryl Power, and Deborah Williamson, have prepared the following statement to share with you and the broader community on this matter.