Advocacy Network News

Spotlight

SfN Continues to Respond to Federal Policies Impacting Biomedical Research

Check out the latest response from SfN and our partners, including a statement from Research!America on the U.S. government shutdown.

ECPAs Participate in 2025 Congressional Days 

SfN hosted its fifth annual Early Career Policy Ambassador (ECPA) Congressional Days. ECPAs met with their congressional offices to discuss neuroscience research funding, the importance of halting destabilizing federal actions, and the importance of the continued use of animals in biomedical research. This year, eight ECPAs from eight states participated in 21 meetings. Learn more about the ECPA program and the activities ECPAs participate in throughout the year. Applications for the 2026 program open soon!

Federal Government Shutdown Following the End of FY25 

Congress was unable to pass full-year appropriations or come to an agreement on a continuing resolution ahead of the October 1 deadline, prompting a federal government shutdown. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has since released guidance on how its agencies, including NIH, will operate during the shutdown. Join SfN and fellow NeuroAdvocates in urging Congress to reopen the government and provide full funding for research in FY26 to avoid long-term negative impacts to biomedical research. 

Advocacy Opportunities

• Share Your NIH Impact Story: SfN is proud to support a nonpartisan campaign led by Research!America to highlight the importance of NIH funding. Watch Research!America's ads running in the Washington, D.C. area: Lethal Adversaries, Race 30. Additionally, if you live in Kansas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, or Utah and have been impacted by NIH funding cuts, contact advocacy@sfn.org to get involved in a campaign to place nonpartisan stories in local press, radio, TV, and online. Media training will be provided, and anonymity can be arranged.
• Research!America Communications Advocacy Training: On Tuesday, October 28, noon–1 p.m. EDT, join Research!America for a virtual advocacy training on communicating the value of medical research to the public and policymakers.

• "Mark your calendars! Join SfN President John H. Morrison, PhD and SfN Government and Public Affairs Committee Chair Diane Lipscombe, PhD, on October 30 at 4:30p.m. EDT for a webinar with the American Academy of Neurology on the critical role of federal funding in advancing research and patient care, and its impact on neuroscience and neurology. Participants will learn best practices for engaging policymakers and supporting advocacy initiatives. Registration coming soon."

• SfN Chapter Spotlights: Check out interviews with June Liu, leader of SfN’s Greater New Orleans chapter, and Laura Baquedano Santana, leader of SfN’s Peru chapter, for insights into their local advocacy work

Federal News

NIH Announces Standard Organoid Modeling (SOM) Center 

NIH launched the SOM Center to advance human-based research and reduce reliance on animal models. The SOM Center will use AI, robotics, and diverse human cell sources to develop standardized, reproducible organoid models of the liver, lung, heart, intestine, and other organs. It will be housed at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research and will be guided by a new Scientific Advisory Board and supported by multiple NIH institutes.

Congressional Neuroscience Caucus (CNC) Co-Chair Will Not Run for Reelection 

CNC Co-Chair Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) is leaving Congress in 2026. Over the next year, SfN will work with Rep. Luttrell, CNC Co-Chair Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), the American Brain Coalition, and other key stakeholders to identify a new co-chair to help lead the Caucus. See if your representative is a member of the CNC.

CNC Briefing: Watch the recording of the recent CNC Briefing highlighting brain-inspired next-generation artificial intelligence. 

• October 7–21: Apply for the Neuroscience Scholars Program a two-year online training program to support graduate students and postdoctoral researchers through mentorship, career development resources, and a supportive network dedicated to your success.
• November 6–December 21: #SfN25 registrants can access the virtual component.
• November 14, 1–5:30 p.m. PST: Register for the Responsible Conduct of Research Workshop — Empowered Mentorship: Thriving as a Mentee and Mentor Through Challenges and Growth.
• Saturday, November 15–Wednesday, November 19: Attend Neuroscience 2025 at the San Diego Convention Center.