Advocacy Network Newsletter

Urge Congress to Support Neuroscience Research in FY2024

Your story, as a constituent, is incredibly powerful on Capitol Hill. Join your fellow NeuroAdvocates in urging Congress to support neuroscience priorities and increase research funding for Fiscal Year 2024. Send your Representative and Senators a message via SfN’s Advocacy Action Center and personalize it by including why robust federal funding is critical to your research and necessary to advance our understanding of the brain. 

SfN Submits Outside Witness Testimony to Congress

The Society for Neuroscience submitted congressional testimony written by SfN President, Dr. Oswald Steward, to the House and Senate Commerce-Justice-Science and Labor-HHS-Education Appropriation subcommittees, on NSF and NIH respectively for FY2024. The testimony outlines the importance of basic science research and animal models, recent advancements in the field of neuroscience, and the disruption that comes from potential budget cuts and continuing resolutions.  

NCI Director Reported to be Nominated to Lead NIH

Several news outlets have indicated the Biden Administration is set to nominate current National Cancer Institute (NCI) Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli to serve as the next NIH Director, a position that has not had a permanent leader since December 2021 when Dr. Francis Collins stepped down. At the cancer institute, Bertagnolli developed the recently released National Cancer Plan, which is designed to reduce cancer death rates and achieve the goals laid out by President Biden as part of his cancer “moonshot” initiative. The NIH director must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, following a confirmation process in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. A formal nomination has not yet been made.

National Academies Committee Releases Report on Future Needs of NHP Research

The Committee on the State of the Science and Future Needs for Nonhuman Primate Model Systems, which included multiple SfN members, recently released their report Nonhuman Primate Models in Biomedical Research: State of the Science and Future Needs reaffirming the necessity of NHP models and highlighting the current shortage. The report concluded that NHPs are currently irreplaceable in neuroscience and other areas of biomedical research and a national strategy is necessary to address the current shortage of NHPs in research. This is an important report for the neuroscience community and reaffirms the importance of nonhuman primate research moving forward.

Register for Research!America’s Early Career Summit

Research!America is hosting their third annual summit for early career researchers, Reaching the Peak: A Science & Technology Career Summit, throughout the month of June. Throughout this event, you will have the opportunity to explore an array of career paths, network with fellow researchers and career professionals, participate in professional development workshops, and engage in meaningful discussions around issues critical to the success of the R&D ecosystem. Early career researchers in medical, public health, or other health and science-related disciplines are invited to attend, including graduate students in Master’s, PhD, MD, PharmD, or similar degree programs; recent graduates; Postdocs/Fellows; and early-career employees. There is no charge for attendance.

NSF Hosting Virtual Grants Conference

Join the National Science Foundation for the Spring 2023 NSF Virtual Grants Conference, to be held during the week of June 5, 2023. The NSF Grants Conference is designed to give new faculty, researchers, and administrators key insights into a wide range of current issues at NSF. NSF staff will provide up-to-date information about policies and procedures, specific funding opportunities and answer attendee questions.

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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