Like you, I have watched with dismay and grave concern a number of actions taken by the Administration in the past few weeks that will prove devastating to scientific research in the U.S. The scientific enterprise depends on robust research investment from the federal government, much of it channeled into U.S. universities through federal grants.

Michelle Monje, professor of pediatric neuro-oncology at Stanford University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, and Frank Winkler, professor of neuro-oncology at Heidelberg University, were awarded the Brain Prize 2025 for pioneering the field of cancer neuroscience.

WASHINGTON — The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) has selected 10 members from a highly competitive applicant pool to participate in the Society’s annual Capitol Hill Day on March 11–13, 2025. 

On February 7^th, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that effective immediately, all NIH grants must have a maximum indirect cost rate of 15% in lieu of the normal rates defined in an institution’s negotiated indirect cost rate agreement. This policy change will have massive consequences for potentially life-saving brain and behavior research that benefits millions of Americans.

Recent actions such as federal communication restrictions, funding freezes, and a new uncertain landscape for federal employees have left neuroscientists who receive funding through federal grants concerned about whether their important work will continue or be significantly hampered. Join fellow NeuroAdvocates in urging Congress to protect congressionally approved funding for biomedical research and the scientific workforce and ensure reliable funding continues uninterrupted.

The White House pause on federal grants is unprecedented and highly disruptive to the entire scientific community. The Administration has frozen previously approved and authorized funds, including reimbursements for funds already spent. These disruptive choices will impact students and trainees who rely on grants, funded investigators, and patients waiting for critical discoveries and treatments, in addition to having an economic impact for employees and employers at universities and organizations that are economic drivers in the U.S.

In light of the very recent federal executive actions that affect NIH including a freeze on hiring, study sections, Advisory Council meetings, travel, and communications, I wanted to reach out to all of you today. While these actions are in some cases without precedent, many of them have been applied more broadly across many or most federal agencies by the new Administration, and it will be some time before we understand any possible lasting impacts on NIH specifically. My hope is that this action will be short-lived.

Earlier this month, SfN held a membership vote on a proposed amendment to Article 5 of the Articles of Incorporation and revisions to the SfN Bylaws. The vote closed on Thursday, December 12, 5 p.m. EST, with more than 90% of the votes in support of these changes. The SfN Council is now empowered to adapt SfN’s membership structure to better reflect changes in the field.

SfN and The Kavli Foundation announced a new, four-part webinar series, “Neural Adaptation in Changing Ecosystems,” aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge about the science of neurobiology and changing environments.

Over the last year, SfN Council has been reviewing how the Society could evolve its membership program to better meet the progressing needs of the field. Part of this review included the appointment of a Working Group on SfN Individual Membership, co-chaired by two members of Council.