SfN NeuroAdvocates Thank Congress, Reinforce Community Needs
SfN’s 20th annual Hill Days once again brought the voices of the neuroscience community directly to policymakers, as 53 NeuroAdvocates held 74 meetings with Members of Congress and their staff across 30 states March 17–19.
NeuroAdvocates shared gratitude for past congressional support; in FY 2026, Congress rejected an administration proposal to cut $24.5 billion across NIH and NSF. At the same time, they were prepared to voice the needs of the neuroscience community regarding funding and policy stability. NeuroAdvocates highlighted how federal investment fuels discovery that brings hope to patients and sustains a biomedical workforce critical to U.S. innovation and competitiveness.
To ensure productive and effective conversations, NeuroAdvocates participated in extensive training ahead of Hill Days. Preparation focused on communicating research in accessible terms, understanding the federal policymaking process, and coordinating clear, unified requests. This groundwork enabled advocates to enter meetings confident and informed, ready to convey the real‑world implications of past and proposed policy decisions.
During meetings, NeuroAdvocates asked policymakers to support and protect NIH‑funded research by increasing NIH base‑level funding to at least $51.303 billion in FY 2027 and BRAIN Initiative funding to $468 million. They also emphasized concern regarding harmful new policies such as proposals to expand multiyear funding of grants and to cap facilities and administration costs. Additional requests included robust FY 2027 funding of $9.9 billion for NSF and at least $1.2 billion for the Veterans Affairs Medical and Prosthetic Research program.
Consistent with prior years, NeuroAdvocates stressed support for the ethical and responsible use of animals in biomedical research across all research agencies. Members of Congress were invited to tour research labs, and Representatives were encouraged to join the Congressional Neuroscience Caucus to deepen their understanding of neuroscience‑related issues.
Hill Day participants reflected the breadth of the neuroscience community, including representatives from SfN’s volunteer leadership, members of the Government and Public Affairs Committee (GPA) and the Committee on Animals in Research (CAR), advocacy key contacts, the 2026 Early Career Policy Ambassadors (ECPAs), and coalition partners such as the American Brain Coalition, American Academy of Neurology, American Neurological Association, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, the Coalition for Life Sciences, and the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies.
Complementing the Hill Days meetings, Brain Awareness Week (BAW) proclamations and statements were issued by Maryland and Washington, D.C., and a statement recognizing BAW was entered into the Congressional Record by Congressional Neuroscience Caucus co‑chair Rep. Mike Thompson. Together, these efforts reinforced the shared goal of ensuring a stable, well‑supported future for neuroscience research.
