March 2023
SfN Holds 17th Annual Capitol Hill Day
SfN successfully completed their 17th annual Capitol Hill Day from March 6th through March 8th. It was once again transformed into a multiday, virtual event with 40 advocates in attendance holding 73 meetings with congressional offices across 27 states. These participants advocated for robust funding for the NIH, NSF, and the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Program as well as support for the continued ethical use of animals in research. We want to thank everyone who participated in Hill Day and used their voice to advocate for neuroscience priorities!
2022 ECPA Publishes Comic on Spanish Female Neuroscientists
Dr. Leire Abdale-Atristain, a 2022 Early Career Policy Ambassador, has published a comic as part of the “Ellas Son Ciencia” series, a project to uplift and showcase female Spanish scientists in the USA. The comic, Neurowomen, which was done in partnership with the Gender Equality Group at ECUSA (Spanish Scientists in the USA) and artist Quan Zhou, features the work and trajectories of SfN members Drs. Ana Clara Bobadilla (2021 ECPA), Elena Blanco-Suárez and Susana Martínez Conde.
President Biden Releases FY2024 Budget Request
The Biden-Harris Administration released their FY2024 budget request proposal, providing Congress funding recommendations and offers insight into the Administration’s priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. Included in the budget proposal was 48.2 billion for the NIH, $2.5 billion for ARPA-H, $11.3 billion for the NSF, and $938 million for the VA Medical and Prosthetics Research Program. The spending blueprint also serves as the initial offer in negotiations over the federal budget, with Congress ultimately deciding where funds are allocated.
NIH Issues RFI on Re-envisioning U.S. Postdoctoral Research Training and Career Progression
The NIH has issued a request for information seeking input from extramural research community members regarding the current state of postdoctoral research training and career progression within the biomedical research enterprise. NIH is particularly interested in understanding the perspective and experience of recent and current postdoctoral trainees, postdoctoral office leaders, as well as graduate students considering becoming postdoctoral trainees within the academic sector. This RFI will assist NIH in hearing the voices of postdoctoral trainees along with others impacted by this unique and skilled training position, and in exploring ways to address some of the fundamental challenges faced by the postdoctoral trainee community. The response deadline is April 14th.
Lasker Foundation Launches 2023 Essay Contest
Sponsored by the prestigious Lasker Foundation, the essay contest aims to build skills in communicating important medical and scientific issues to broad audiences. It is open to medical students, interns, residents, doctoral and postdoctoral fellows in the biomedical sciences, and grad students training in health professions. The theme for the contest is: Ethical issues are not always easy to identify. Describe an unanticipated ethical issue you have encountered, or you have seen colleagues encounter, during your training and the strategies used to address it. Awardees receive up to $5,000 for educational expenses. The 800-word essays are due by March 31, at 2 p.m. EDT.
Register Now for the 9th Annual BRAIN Initiative Meeting
Registration is now open for the 9th annual BRAIN Initiative meeting from June 12th – 13th being held in-person in Bethesda, MD and virtually. Attend to be a part of discussions that explore exciting scientific developments and new directions and identify areas for collaboration and research coordination. The deadline to submit abstracts to present via symposia or poster sessions is Monday, May 8th.
SfN Advocacy Resources
- Introduce yourself to the new Congress 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 effectively 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.
