Champions for Research
Leading champions for medical and health research, including many members of Congress, joined a celebration of NIH this week at the Library of Congress at an event organized by Jed Manocherian, founder of ACT for NIH, a tireless advocate, and Research!America Advocacy Award honoree. The following evening, the National Science Foundation held a celebration in honor of its 2024 awardees, with additional Advocacy Award honorees in the house. I’m confident that there were many future award winners attending these gatherings – and now it’s time to nominate them. See more on how to do that below.
AI, Friend or Foe?: The long arm of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reveal itself in ways poised to enhance productivity and accelerate research progress in once-a-century ways, as well as to produce outcomes we don’t yet know how to describe – good, bad, and even ugly. The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released a report last week calling out AI’s benefits to society given “a well-designed, equitably shared, and responsibly used infrastructure” while also pointing out that, as with any new technology, “realizing the potentials of AI will require addressing its limitations.” The 63-page report outlines recommendations, such as the development of guidelines on transparent use of AI in research, to enable us to reap its benefits.
On The Hill: The House and Senate appropriations process is moving forward at a rapid pace – we understand that Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-OK) plans to complete committee consideration of all 12 appropriations bills by mid-June, with the Senate not far behind. The deadlines have passed for all but one of the relevant Dear Colleague letters: take time now, using this editable email, to urge your Senators to sign on to a letter urging appropriators to prioritize NIH funding in FY25.
Outside witness testimony for the Labor-HHS Subcommittee must be submitted by close of business tomorrow for the House and Friday, May 24, for the Senate. The deadline for the House Commerce-Justice Science Subcommittee is May 10. See Research!America’s testimony guide with committee guidelines included, and don’t hesitate to use our House Labor-HHS outside witness testimony as a template!
If more background on the opportunities above would be useful, take a quick look at last week’s letter.
Science Heroes: Our K-12 science teachers are unsung heroes who often ignite curiosity in their students, helping produce the next generation of scientists. During Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6-10, when we say thanks for their many contributions, the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) is offering free seminars and other resources for our nation’s science teachers. Call out your favorite science teacher on social media with the #BecauseTeachers and #NSTA hashtags.
Quashing Super Bugs: In early March, Reps. Mike Levin (D-CA) and Drew Ferguson (R-GA) reintroduced the bipartisan, wonderfully named Saving Us from Pandemic Era Resistance by Building a Unified Global Strategy (SUPER BUGS) Act to develop a coordinated, collaborative global response to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. Our January 2024 survey found that 83% of Americans are concerned that antibiotic resistance will make infections more difficult to treat or even deadly. We are hosting an alliance discussion on May 7, at noon ET, featuring Alison Feinswog, Senior Legislative Assistant to Rep. Levin, for a conversation on the importance of fighting antimicrobial resistance through proposals like the SUPER BUGS Act. Register here.
Back to the Basics: Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluation of prescription drugs is a critical part of the U.S. public-private sector R&D pipeline. Have you ever wondered how the drug approval process actually works? The Alliance for a Stronger FDA is holding a webinar on Monday, May 6, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. ET with Patrizia Cavazzoni, MD, Director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, that will provide those details. Register here.
Calling Early Career Researchers! We hope to see you this June for Research!America’s fourth annual Reaching the Peak: A Science & Technology Early Career Researcher Summit Series. This popular series of free, virtual programs throughout the month of June enables early career researchers to explore an array of career paths, network with fellow researchers, participate in professional development workshops on science communications and science policy and advocacy, hear from distinguished leaders, and engage in meaningful discussions around research funding and policy issues. Registration is open, so secure your spot today! And please spread the word.
2025 Advocacy Awards Nominations: Nominations are now open for Research!America’s 2025 Advocacy Awards, which recognize individuals and organizations whose commitment to advocacy for research and innovation has advanced medical, public health, and scientific progress in profoundly important ways. Take a look at the descriptions of awards and submit your nominations. The deadline for nominations is Friday, May 31, so don’t delay!
Remembering Herbert Pardes: I pause here to note the death this week of Herbert Pardes, MD, for whose family one of our advocacy awards is named. Herb was a leading advocate for medical and health research, and, I am proud to say, was a lifetime member of the Research!America Board of Directors, on which he served for three decades. He touched many lives, mine included, and will leave a lasting legacy. We extend our condolences to his family and all who were touched by his kindness and wisdom.