SfN continued and expanded its role as an advocate for neuroscience throughout its second 25 years, developing and refining its strategies to have the greatest impact. The initial basic goal of increased research funding developed into a wider advocacy for scientific freedom in research, in the face of political challenges such as crusades against animal research and restrictions on the use of stem cells. Lobbying at the congressional and local levels continued into the new century, including the annual "Hill Day" and meetings during legislative recess; but SfN expanded in several directions, partnering with disease advocacy groups, training young members for careers in science policy and helping international partners to develop advocacy programs in their own countries. "Over time," Nick Spitzer (Chair, Public Education and Communication Committee, 2006-09) has commented, "we have learned how to be sophisticated, how to share the message."363

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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.

Advocates who build relationships with their members of Congress have demonstrated significant influence over the legislative process. By speaking directly with your policymakers, you can make the connection between federal investment and your ability to make neuroscience discoveries that improve human health and reduce suffering from debilitating brain disorders.

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.

Join your fellow NeuroAdvocates in urging Congress to support neuroscience priorities and increase research funding for Fiscal Year 2023. 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.

Join your fellow NeuroAdvocates in urging Congress to support neuroscience priorities and increase research funding for Fiscal Year 2023. 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.

Join your fellow NeuroAdvocates in urging Congress to support neuroscience priorities and increase research funding for Fiscal Year 2023. 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.

Share your research, network with leading neuroscientists, and celebrate your colleagues' work at Neuroscience 2019 Oct. 19–23 in Chicago.

The Kavli Prize in Neuroscience is awarded to David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian for their independent discoveries of sensory receptors for temperature and pressure, respectively. While the mechanisms for smell and vision have long been described, a specific molecular understanding for how physical properties like temperature and pressure are detected and encoded into electrical signals the brain can process had been lacking.