August 2025
Spotlight
SfN Continues to Respond to Federal Policies Impacting Biomedical Research
Check out the latest response from SfN and partners, including statements from Research!America, the Coalition for Health Funding (CHF), and the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research on the Senate FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill.
Advocacy Opportunities
- SfN Story Collection: Impacts of Federal Policies on Researchers: Share with SfN how the direct consequences of federal administrative actions, including funding freezes, grant cancellations, and proposed budget cuts, have impacted your research.
- Funding Sources Survey: The Transmitter is conducting a brief survey on funding across neuroscience labs.
- Register by Monday, September 8 to join NeuroAdvocates on Capitol Hill at the Rally for Medical Research, Thursday, September 18.
- Research!America’s August Advocacy Challenge: Complete Research!America’s August Advocacy Challenge to engage with federal lawmakers and for a chance to win a prize. If you participate, be sure to use #NeuroAdvocate and tag SfN’s social media accounts.
- Use the CHF’s District Toolkit as a guide while scheduling and preparing for in-district meetings, drafting op-eds, and engaging with policymakers on social media.
- Advocacy Best Practices: Learn how to engage your members of Congress and effectively advocate for science with SfN's Advocacy Best Practices.
Federal News
Senate Appropriations Committee Passes FY26 LHHS Bill
The Senate Appropriations Committee recently passed the FY26 LLHS bill, on a bipartisan vote, that included $47.1 billion in total base funding for NIH, a $400 million increase from FY25, and a $19.18 billion increase from the President’s Budget Request, and $334.9 million for the BRAIN Initiative, a $12 million increase over FY25 and a $139 million increase from the President’s Budget Request. The bill includes funding for all 27 existing NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) while maintaining language that would prohibit the administration from making changes to facility and administrative cost reimbursements and from increasing the proportion of forward-funded awards unless the total number of awards is at least equivalent to that of FY24. The House LHHS bill is expected this fall when Congress returns from August recess. SfN will remain engaged on this issue as Congress works to finalize the FY26 NIH funding level.
House and Senate Continue Through FY26 Appropriations Process
The House and Senate released their FY26 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) bills, with the House including $7 billion in funding for NSF, a $2.6 billion decrease from FY25 funding and a $3.09 million increase from the President’s Budget Request. The Senate included $9 billion in funding for NSF, a $60 million decrease from FY25 funding and a $5.09 billion increase from the President’s Budget Request. Additionally, the Senate recently passed the FY26 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill, which includes $943 million for the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical and Prosthetic Research Program, equal funding to FY25 and the President’s Budget Request. SfN will continue to engage offices on this issue as the House and Senate look to finalize the FY26 appropriations bills later this year.
NIH Issues Clarification on New NAMs Policy
NIH issued a crucial clarification to its July announcement regarding the prioritization of new approach methodologies (NAMs) in research. The agency emphasized that while new funding opportunities will be designed more broadly to encourage diverse approaches, researchers may continue to propose research exclusively involving animal models if scientifically appropriate and justified. Read SfN’s submitted comments following the initial announcement and stay tuned as SfN remains engaged on this issue.
Across the Field
- Congressional Neuroscience Caucus (CNC) Briefing: Watch the recording of the CNC Briefing highlighting the successes of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke over the past 75 years.
SfN Dates and Deadlines
- Wednesday, September 3–Wednesday, September 10: Late-breaking abstract submission period.
- Monday, October 6: Deadline for online advance registration for #SfN25.
- Saturday, November 15–Wednesday, November 19: Neuroscience 2025 at the San Diego Convention Center.
