Advocacy Network Newsletter

Urge Congress to Complete the FY 2021 Appropriations Process

Congress plans to pass another continuing resolution, temporarily avoiding a government shutdown for one more week (until Dec. 18, 2020). Contact your members of Congress today and ask them to complete the FY 2021 appropriations process with an increase to biomedical research funding, including at least $15.5 billion in the next COVID-19 relief package. Additionally, remind your member that animal models in research are already well-regulated and additional regulations and restrictions would have a detrimental effect on research.

NeuroAdvocate Challenge: December 2020 

Report back any activities you have carried out as part of SfN’s NeuroAdvocate Challenge by Friday, Dec. 11, 2020.

Federal Advocacy News

• Congress is expected to pass a one-week spending stop-gap as the deadline for the continuing resolution, December 11, comes near.
• COVID-19 relief talks have stalled due to a disagreement over details.

ECPA Applications Open Through December 21

Applications open for SfN's Early Career Policy Ambassadors (ECPA) Program Monday, November 16. This year-long program for early career undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate students, as well as recent PhD/MD recipients, allows NeuroAdvocates to enhance their advocacy skills with the neuroscience community, policymakers, and the public. Applications will be open until December 21, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EST. 

ECPA 2020 Participant Ubadah Sabbagh Acknowledged by Forbes in 30 Under 30 Science   

Forbes produces a series annually titled “30 Under 30” that aims to highlight 30 individuals under 30 years old to recognize in a variety of fields. SfN is excited to announce that Ubadah Sabbagh, an ECPA for 2020, was included in the most recent “30 Under 30 – Science”. This year alone, Ubadah published “Science is Better When We Open Our Doors to Immigrants,” helped organize #BlackInNeuro, and has been an amazing advocate for the neuroscience community.

ABC, partnered with the CNC, Hosting a Congressional Briefing – Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases, from Alzheimer’s disease to Parkinson’s disease, affect millions of people worldwide. The risk of being affected by a neurodegenerative disease increases dramatically with age. More Americans living longer means more people may be affected by the diseases in coming decades. Join the American Brain Coalition (ABC) for a virtual Congressional Neuroscience Caucus (CNC) briefing examining the critical need to improve our understanding of what causes neurodegenerative diseases and develop new approaches for treatment and prevention. The briefing will be held Thursday, December 10 at 11 a.m. EST. Register here.

New NIH Award Supports Early-Stage Investigators

NIH published two funding opportunity announcements on November 9. Both awards are R01 grants to support early-stage investigators pursuing a new research direction for up to five years. One award requires basic research with human subjects. The other is for studies that do not involve clinical trials. Both are funded through the Stephen I. Katz Early Investigator Research Project Grant program.

SfN Advocacy Resources

• Contact your legislator about research funding 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 persuasively 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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