May 2020

Stay connected with the neuroscience community and your local communities as the globe continues to confront COVID-19. SfN’s Confronting COVID-19 hosts a collection of news and resources about the challenges confronting the neuroscience community and currently features relevant advocacy and outreach resources under “Career Development Resources.”

NeuroAdvocate Challenge: May 2020 

As SfN is continually developing more resources to help you advocate under the new circumstances, you can continue you neuroscience advocacy this month by:  

• Downloading and utilizing the new advocacy best practice resource on “Scheduling and Conducting Virtual Meetings with Policymakers and Staff.” 
• Watch the COVID-19 legislative and advocacy “town hall event” from the SfN Advocacy team.
• Checking out how and why you should continue to advocate throughout the year.
• Reading and sharing SfN’s Congressional testimony on funding for NIH and NSF in fiscal year 2021

These activities and more are part of SfN’s year-long NeuroAdvocate Challenge. Help advocate with SfN by signing up for the challenge today. Active participants will be recognized for their efforts and entered into a drawing to attend SfN’s 15th Capitol Hill Day in 2021.

View previous activities that have been rolled out to date, and make sure to report back completed activities to be recognized for your efforts.

Federal Advocacy News   

• House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-23) released a plan on May 4 to reopen the House of Representatives during the pandemic.
• Dr. Anthony Fauci set to testify remotely before Senate committee about coronavirus response.
• Ed Markey (D-MA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) lead 31 Senators in calling for $26 billion to support the U.S. scientific research community in the next federal relief package. This call has been endorsed by many institutions, including SfN.

Summary of Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Workshop Released by NIH

NIH hosted a workshop titled “Fostering Rigorous Research: lessons learned from nonhuman primate models and charting the path forward” on February 18-19, 2020. On May 4, 2020 NIH released a summary of the workshop which brought together key stakeholders to explore the intersection of optimizing research rigor and research involving NHPs.

Scientific Labs Face Funding Difficulties During COVID-19 Pandemic

The novel coronavirus has shown the world the importance of robust scientific research. It has also shuttered labs, causing a growing concern on how the disruption will affect funding and outcomes. Funders, such as NSF and NIH, are providing grant extensions to help ease the pressure. For some, there are still funding opportunities. NIH has released updated funding opportunities through the BRAIN Initiative.

International News Headlines

• Invitation to European scientific and research community organisations to nominate outstanding candidates for membership of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors.
• The African Union calls for international support amid COVID-19.
• The Indian government came to the rescue of ITER fusion reactor experiment that was hit by COVID-19.
• Japan is planning for one-month virus emergency extension, according to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
• The European Journal of Neuroscience (EJN) celebrates neuroscience in Finland in their latest issue.

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.
• Download the SfN Advocacy App for your Apple or Android device to have all your advocacy resources in one place.
• Reach out to advocacy@sfn.org for assistance in preparing for your next advocacy effort at home or on Capitol Hill.