Meredith and Amelia’s lives were turned upside down by their choices and the events ofGrey’s Anatomyseason 20’s finale, but its season 21 trailer provided an exciting update about their careers’ future.Meredith’s Alzheimer’s researchproducing shocking results was already hinted at inGrey’s Anatomyseason 19’s finale, which showed Meredith’s colleagues and family more worried about her than willing to consider what her findings highlighted. Despite being against how such a study erased Derek’s contributions,Amelia couldn’t stay away and became an integral part of the research, making her as involved as Meredith for best and for worst.

Meredith’s conviction to continue her project despite her promise not to do so to Catherine pointed to the Alzheimer’s research story ending badly, especially once she and Amelia secured Grey Sloan Memorial’s discretionary funds thanks to Teddy. Still, whileGrey’s Anatomyseason 20’s finale included plenty of challenging developments for many of Grey Sloan’s doctors, it also forced Amelia and Meredith’s hand to publish their findings in a bid to keep the Alzheimer’s research theirs.Grey’s Anatomyseason 21’s trailer shows what that choice’s repercussions will be, but it also offers an encouraging update about Amelia and Meredith’s research future research future.

Caterina Scorsone as Amelia Shepherd and Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey in Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s trailer

Meredith & Amelia Work In The Dr Meredith Grey Research Institute In The Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Trailer

They Are More Powerful Than In Grey’s Anatomy Season 20

A major plot point ofGrey’s Anatomyseason 20 saw Meredith and Amelia pitching their Alzheimer’s research to various prospective investors with the hope of securing money to continue it as they couldn’t use Catherine’s. However,it was the lack of funding that brought Amelia and Meredith to accept Teddy’s offer of Grey Sloan’s discretionary funds, which still bound them to the Catherine Fox Foundation.Grey’s Anatomyseason 21’s trailer nevertheless shows Meredith and Amelia steadily continuing their research at the Dr. Meredith Grey Research Institute, proving they easily found a new home and funding to continue their Alzheimer’s study.

Meredith and Amelia’s Alzheimer’s study easily finding new funding hints at their larger power inGrey’s Anatomyseason 21, after season 20 saw them forced to be subjected to Catherine’s power moves because of the power imbalance between the foundation and them.

Grey’s Anatomy Poster

It’s unclear who funded the institute, whether it was them or a benefactor. External funding would seem more likely, as Meredith and Amelia would have created a research center inGrey’s Anatomyseason 20 if they could, given that they wanted to continue away from Catherine’s influence,especially considering how their now-published findings inGrey’s Anatomyseason 20’s finalecould have enticed investors. A research center in Meredith’s name already existed in Rochester, Minnesota, asHamilton funded the Grey Center to convince Meredith to study Parkinson’s, making him a potential benefactorof another similar research center in Boston or Seattle.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Teases Meredith & Amelia’s All-Out Fight Against Catherine Avery

Catherine Is Set On Fighting Back Per Grey’s Anatomy Season 21’s Trailer

Grey’s Anatomyseason 20’s finale already showed how serious Catherine was in dealing with Grey Sloan Memorial’s problems, as in one episode she made it clear how Teddy, Owen and Amelia were fired, not even having the courtesy to let two of them know directly from her. In addition to that, though,Grey’s Anatomyseason 21’s trailer highlights how Meredith and Amelia’s choice to publish their findings to avoid playing by Catherine’s rules will have dire consequences for them, as the two are notified of legal proceedings against them at the trailer’s end.

Catherine’s behavior at the end ofGrey’s Anatomyseason 20 guaranteed her setup as a villain, and her challenges to Bailey’s role in season 21’s trailer continue to hint at such transformation. However,Grey’s Anatomyseason 21’s trailer also established how adamant Catherine is on making Amelia and Meredith pay, making their choices in season 20’s cliffhanger ending more impactful, as their research could potentially suffer. With Catherine’s fight against Grey Sloan’s doctors shaping up asGrey’s Anatomyseason 21’s focus, Amelia and Meredith will have much to defend, hinting at an exciting season full of twists and drama.

Grey’s Anatomyseason 21 premieres on Thursday, September 26 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

Grey’s Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy is a medical drama series revolving around surgical interns, residents, and attendings at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The show features the professional and personal lives of these medical professionals, led initially by Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the series highlights the complexities of medical cases while delving into the interpersonal relationships among the hospital staff.