May 16, 2014 - This Week's Consolidation of Advocacy News
News
Labs Are Told to Start Including a Neglected Variable: Females
May 14, 2014 | New York Times
As of October 1, 2014, NIH will require that scientists develop plans for including both male and female cell lines and animals in their federally funded research. NIH also plans to train grant recipients and its own staff members on designing studies without sex bias.
UK Institutions Sign Up to Animal-Research Openness
May 14, 2014 | Nature
Organizations including universities, charities, industry, and government funders have signed a document committing them to be open about animal research. Specifically, they will provide more information about their work, engage more readily with media, and encourage more public discussion of animal research.
- Read the new BrainFacts.org article Why Animals are Vital to Brain Research
Bioethicists Warn BRAIN Initiative Against Repeating Past Mistakes
May 14, 2014 | The Hill
On May 14, the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues (Bioethics Commission) released volume one of its two-part response to President Obama's request related to the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. The report broadly calls for the integration of ethics across the life of neuroscientific research endeavors.
Australia Shakes up Science Budget
May 14, 2014 | Nature
The Australian budget, release by Prime Minister Tony Abbott's administration, contains drastic cuts to science funding, particularly to research not directly related to biomedical fields.
- Find resources for advocating globally for neuroscience funding at SfN.org/advocacy.
Salmon Over Science: House Spending Panel Goes Fishing at the Expense of NSF and Census
May 9, 2014 | Science Insider
An amendment passed on a voice vote by the House of Representatives' Appropriations Committee moved $5 million from NSF and $10 million from the Census Bureau's research activities to strengthen a Pacific salmon recovery program run by the Commerce Department's National Marine Fisheries Service.
- Contact your member of Congress to make your case for NSF funding using this new fact sheet.
U.S. House Passes Permanent R&D Tax Credit
May 9, 2014 | Science Insider
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would permanently extend a popular tax break for companies investing in research. Despite strong bipartisan support, the proposal appears unlikely to become law.
- Check out the Q&A with members of the Interagency Working Group on Neuroscience where they discuss their new report on “concrete actions the federal government can take to enable acceleration of progress.”
Policy
House Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health Meeting
May 20, 2014, 10:00 a.m., RHOB 2322
This committee will consider "21st Century Cures: The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) Report on Drug Innovation."
- Invite your member of Congress to tour your lab so they can see firsthand how scientific research is advancing the development of treatments and cures.
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