Advocacy Network Newsletter

Urge Congress to Support Neuroscience in FY2023 and Avoid Long-term CRs

In this new action alert, join your fellow NeuroAdvocates in urging Congress to support neuroscience priorities and increase research funding for Fiscal Year 2023. Congress has taken steps to advance FY23 funding and we need to ensure they provide the highest possible investment in neuroscience research as the process moves forward. We are calling on Congress to pass federal funding legislation in a timely manner and not resort to long-term continuing resolutions (CRs) that stagnate federal funding for research. Send your Representative and Senators a message via SfN’s Advocacy Action Center and personalize it by including why robust and timely federal funding is critical to your research and necessary to advance our understanding of the brain.

SfN Hosting Instagram Live on Mental Health Advocacy

Join host Dr. Lori McMahon, chair of SfN’s Government and Public Affairs Committee, for an Instagram Live featuring former President of the American Psychiatric Association, Dr. Maria Oquendo, and Professor at the University of Montréal, Dr. Patricia Conrod on Friday, September 30th from 12:30 – 1:00pm ET. Following SfN’s webinar, “How to Advocate for Mental Health Research,” these featured speakers will continue the conversation on why it is critical for federal investment in mental health research to continue and ways to successfully advocate for mental health resources.

Join SfN for an Advocacy Town Hall

SfN will be hosting an advocacy town hall on Monday, October 3rd from 3:00 – 4:00pm ET. Come listen to the latest congressional news, where things stand in the federal appropriations process, and the most up-to-date advocacy news within SfN. For more information or if you are interested in attending, please email advocacy@sfn.org.

White House Releases FY2024 Research Priorities

Leaders of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have released the Multi-Agency Research and Development Priorities for FY2024. The memo outlines guidance to federal agencies as they draft their budget requests for FY2024, detailing how R&D programs are expected to align with the president’s larger policy agenda which includes preparing for and preventing pandemics, cultivating an equitable STEM education, engagement, and workforce ecosystem, and promoting open science and community-engaged R&D.

New Data Shows Economic Impact of Long-haul COVID-19

The Brookings Institution has released an assessment using Census Bureau data to highlight the necessity to address long-haul COVID-19 and its economic impact on American society. Findings show that around 16 million working-age Americans have long-COVID and of those, an estimated two to four million Americans are out of work due to this condition, resulting in lost wages of around $170 billion. To learn more about the symptoms of long-haul COVID-19 and why this condition is critical to address, watch this virtual congressional briefing, "The Long-Haul Neurological and Psychological Impacts from COVID-19," co-hosted by SfN.

Podcast Highlights Replacing Animals in Research

In a new episode of GetReal! Podcast, host Dr. Cindy Buckmaster is joined by Dr. Megan LaFollette, Program Director of the North American 3Rs Collaborative (NA3RsC), to discuss why research with animals is still necessary when there are several human relevant, non-animal alternatives available right now that can be used to develop new medical treatments.

Creation of a Public European Medicines Infrastructure: Purpose and Feasibility

Register for an advocacy workshop hosted by the European Parliament’s Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA), Creation of a Public European Medicines Infrastructure: Purpose and Feasibility, on September 28th at 9:00am ET. This European Parliament workshop will bring together experts from biomedical research, pharmaceutical industry representatives, and EU and international public health experts to discuss the state-of-play of the EU's pharmaceutical strategy and the latest advances in medicine and treatments.

Apply for the 2023 3Rs and SciComm ART Awards

Animal Research Tomorrow (ART) has launched the 2023 3Rs and Science Communications (SciComm) awards to support innovative ideas of young scientists for the development and testing of Replacement, Reduction and/or Refinement approaches in animal research and young science communicators in promoting innovative communication strategies and/or creating resources and tools for promoting greater transparency on animal research. Proposals are due by October 15th.

SfN Advocacy Resources

• Introduce yourself to the new Congress via the Advocacy Action Center.
• Watch the Neuroscientist’s Guide to Advocacy series to understand the tools you need to help advance the field.
• Learn how to engage your members of Congress and effectively advocate for science with SfN's Advocacy Best Practices.
• Get involved in global advocacy.
• Talk to the public about the importance of animal research.
• Reach out to advocacy@sfn.org for assistance in preparing for your next advocacy effort at home or on Capitol Hill.

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