Sept. 26, 2014 – This Week's Consolidation of Advocacy News
News
After the NIH Funding 'Euphoria' Comes the 'Hangover'
Sept. 24, 2014 | National Public Radio
An analysis shows that due to the four year funding cycle that most NIH grants follow, differences in NIH funding from year to year cause a much greater impact than the dollar numbers indicate. Aware of the problem, NIH tries to mitigate the massive swings, but isn’t always successful. NIH needs stable, predictable, funding to have the best chance at funding quality projects.
- Help make the case for reliable and steady increases in NIH funding with this fact sheet.
Strengthening Safety and Security Across the U.S. Life Sciences Research Enterprise
Sept. 24, 2014 | Office of Science and Technology Policy
Due to a recent series of lab incidents at U.S. facilities, the administration took steps to strengthen biosafety and biosecurity at laboratories around the country by publishing a new official policy. The U.S. Government Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern will help ensure that vitally important research efforts are carried out safely and in ways that minimize the risk of misuse.
New Washington Player Joins Push for NIH Funding
Sept. 25, 2014 | Science Insider
An interview with Patrick White, a former top legislative aid to NIH Director Francis Collins, now the head of a new group promoting NIH research funding, ACT for NIH: Advancing Cures Today. The interview discusses the group’s plans.
Articles of Interest
National Institutes of Health will Examine ‘Effect of Sex’ in Preclinical Testing
Sept. 23, 2014 | PBS News Hour
The NIH has announced $10.1 million in additional funding for research on the effect of sex in preclinical research. This funding follows a May announcement that NIH will require researchers to report how they balance sex in both animals and cell lines.
- Read about sex differences in the brain at BrainFacts.org.
How a Failed Experiment on Rats Sparked a Billion-Dollar Infant-Care Breakthrough
Sept. 18, 2014 | The Huffington Post
“Failed” neuroscience research on brain development is being recognized by the Golden Goose Awards for its unanticipated impact on infant care. The Golden Goose Awards celebrate research with odd origins that led to groundbreaking results, and emphasizes that the full implications of basic research can rarely be predicted before the work is done.
- Find more examples of the long (and sometimes surprising) path from basic science to medical innovation in Research and Discoveries on BrainFacts.org.
Strange New Type of Brain Cell Discovered
Sept. 23, 2014 | LiveScience
A recently-published paper in Neuron describes a new type of neuron in the hippocampus. These neurons have axons that emerge directly from dendrites instead of the cell body. They also found that dendrites directly connected to an axon were much more sensitive to glutamate.
- Read about the form and function of neurons at BrainFacts.org.
Opinion
How Neuroscience Can Teach Children About Mental Health
Sept. 24, 2014 | The Conversation
A neuroscience researcher at Sheffield University discusses the importance of educating children about mental health and the consequences if schools fail to address the topic in curriculum. She says, “Ignorance about mental health can lead to bullying, prejudice, fear and heartache. It can lead to resistance in those suffering to seek the help and support for those around them, unnecessary fear and worry.”
- Read about mental health and find resources for teaching on BrainFacts.org.
There’s Not a Creativity Deficit in Science
Sept. 20, 2014 | Ars Technica
Although statistics make it appear that progressively less funding to young researchers has resulted in less creativity in science, the author argues that this is not the case. He claims that in fact, the period of time between the moment graduate students finish school and get their first grant, this “gap,” actually cultivates creativity.
OpEd: Crowdfunding for Medical Research Hits a New High
Sept. 20, 2014 | Digital Journal
A new report from The Lancet indicates that crowdfunding for medical research is getting bigger and not just in Australia. Funding is coming from private investors of all kinds too, which is defeating the myth that the public is ignorant in this area.
- Attend this year’s Public Advocacy Forum: Implications for Science Funding in an Era of Global Brain Initiatives at Neuroscience 2014.
