September 2026
SPOTLIGHT
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Proposes Changes to Peer Review
On August 14, NIH released a request for information (RFI) on a proposal that would limit access to peer review scores and percentiles currently available to grant applicants, NIH staff, institute leadership, and advisory councils. While SfN supports efforts to strengthen NIH decision-making, the Society believes the proposal could decrease the role of scientific judgment in funding decisions and reduce transparency and accountability throughout the funding process. Under the proposal, NIH would continue to score grant applications and calculate overall impact scores and percentiles. However, that information would no longer be broadly available to applicants, NIH staff, institute and center leadership, or advisory councils. Instead, applications would be grouped into broad categories, potentially limiting the scientific information available to support funding decisions.
Read a summary of the proposed changes.
Response From SfN to the NIH Proposed Changes
SfN has issued a statement of concern that addresses key issues with the proposed changes found in the NIH RFI. Additionally, SfN will submit comments on the proposal, detailing specific concerns and how it would impact SfN members. The broader neuroscience community will make those available once finalized.
Join fellow NeuroAdvocates and continue the momentum by submitting comments to NIH on the proposed changes to peer review by October 13! Personalized comments describing how peer review scores, percentiles, and reviewer feedback have informed your grant submissions, resubmissions, mentoring, or service in the review process can be particularly impactful.
Appropriations Update
Prior to the August Recess, the Senate voted to pass a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government at FY2026 levels through December 11. Earlier this month, the House voted 370-48 to pass the CR, and President Trump signed it into law. Notably, the CR includes a provision delaying implementation of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed changes to federal assistance through December 11. Join NeuroAdvocates in thanking your members of Congress for passing the CR and continuing to express concern on OMB’s proposed rule.
SfN ADVOCACY
SfN and Coalition Partners Continue Robust Advocacy Response. Check out the latest from SfN and coalition partners. Advocacy Response Center
SfN members, leaders, and current and former Early Career Policy Ambassadors, engaged congressional offices across Alabama, Maine, Maryland, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts during the August recess. Through meetings and laboratory tours, SfN members demonstrated how federally funded neuroscience research benefits communities and reinforced the importance of sustained investment in the scientific enterprise. Join fellow NeuroAdvocates and learn how to invite your members of Congress to visit your lab. Lab Tour Guide
SfN members, including current ECPA Dan Leman, PhD, hosted Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA), as well as staff from the offices of Rep. Clark and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), for a laboratory tour of former SfN President Gina Turrigiano’s, PhD, lab.
SfN has partnered with the American Physical Society (APS) on National Science Foundation (NSF) Forward, an initiative to develop bold, actionable recommendations that will help position the NSF to meet the evolving needs of the nation, its citizens, and science. The goal is to crowdsource ideas from across the R&D ecosystem and translate them into actionable policy proposals and legislative language for consideration by the 120th Congress.
STAY UP TO DATE WITH SfN
Monday, October 5: Last day to lock in discounted rates for #SfN26.
Saturday, November 14–Wednesday, November 18: Neuroscience 2026 in Washington, D.C.
