Energy Not Inertia
In this recent editorial in Science, Sudip Parikh, AAAS CEO and Research!America Board Chair, Marcia McNutt, President of the National Academy of Sciences, and Dario Gil of IBM and Chair of the National Science Board, make the case for a re-energized, re-imagined approach to U.S. leadership in science and technology (S&T). They are among the key drivers of the Vision for American Science and Technology (VAST) initiative. The goal of this ambitious effort, which evolved from the multi-sector Science and Technology Action Committee, is to give decision-makers in Washington, D.C, a roadmap to push our nation’s science and technology innovation to the next level.
Last evening, I emceed a well-attended and very energetic reception on Capitol Hill during which Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) joined NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan, as well as Dario and Sudip in delivering remarks. Sudip and Dario highlighted the urgency of meeting the moment via the VAST initiative. It is well worth repeating Sudip’s call for the S&T community to “come out of our defensive crouch and become the protagonists of our future.” Research!America is the enthusiastic homebase of both STAC and VAST. Please get in touch with Shilpa Rijan if more info would be of interest!
On the Hill: First, hot off the press, here are the Senate and the House calendars for 2025.
On to unfinished business that could well be pushed into the new year: It appears increasingly likely that Congress will pass and the President Biden will sign yet another continuing resolution (CR) extending FY24 funding until sometime in March of 2025. (That would be ~six months into the 2025 fiscal year). A deadline several months away, with many complications in between, could easily drain all energy out of efforts to wrap up the FY25 appropriations process…unless policymakers are convinced to continue treating the completion of FY25 appropriations as their top priority.
Now, for a quick advocacy challenge. President Abraham Lincoln famously said: “With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed.” In Hill meetings, in letters to Congress, in op-eds and social media posts, there is no doubt that public sentiment lends energy to advocacy. We’ve put together a list of research-relevant public opinion survey findings – a sampling of results from the wealth of survey data we’ve compiled over more than 30 years of commissioning national and state-level surveys. I challenge you to weave one of the results from this “survey cheat sheet” into this editable email urging your representatives in Congress to champion passage of FY25 appropriations ASAP and push for the final legislation to boost research funding.
Presidential Nominations: President-elect Trump has announced his intent to nominate Dr. Jay Bhattacharya as Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (see our press statement), Dr. Marty Makary to lead the Food and Drug Administration, and Dr. Dave Weldon to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Washington Update and Brainstorming Session For Research!America Alliance Members: If you are with a Research!America alliance member organization, we hope you will participate in an off-the-record discussion on Dec. 16, from noon to 1 p.m. ET, focused on advocacy-relevant developments in Washington bearing on the future of public and private sector driven medical and public health progress. Cheryl Jaeger from Crossroads Strategies and Leslie Zelenko from KDCR will discuss the policy and funding landscape, and we’ll reserve time for Q&A and brainstorming. If your organization is a Research!America alliance member, email Jacqueline Lagoy to receive the Zoom registration link.
The Future of “N of 1” Therapies: R&D breakthroughs in the area of gene and cell therapies have brought cures for debilitating and deadly diseases like sickle cell anemia within reach, instilling new energy and hope in patients. Continued public and private sector investment in the R&D underlying gene and cell therapies depends on several variables, including the development of reimbursement models that account for the long-term patient benefit and cost savings associated with these curative therapies. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) at CMS has launched a demonstration project that leverages value-based payments to expand access to these therapies. While it might be tempting for the science community to “stay in our own lane” when it comes to R&D vs. access, sustained support for discovery and development ultimately depends on patient access. Advocates need to be aware of developments that affect the entire discovery, development, delivery continuum.
Thank You: A big thank you to everyone who participated in last week’s Public Health Thank You Day. Fifteen federal officials and agencies participated on their social media accounts along with 45 local and state health departments from 24 states. A special thank you to Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) for introducing House Concurrent Resolution 133 in support of the day.
ICYMI: Need a dose of authenticity, energy, and positive momentum on behalf of Veterans and us all? Take a moment and watch our Alliance Discussion yesterday with Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Discovery, Education and Affiliate Networks, Veterans Health Administration, and 2025 John Edward Porter Legacy Award recipient.
It has never been more important: The Research!America alliance is committed to ensuring our nation fully leverages S&T to remain at the forefront of life-saving medical and public health progress. At a time of transition, your donations will provide us with the tailwind we need to do more, day in and day out, to make our case. As you consider your contributions at year’s end, please make a gift to Research!America. Contact Katie Goode to learn more about our work, and thank you for your partnership.