Straight Talk
This year’s theme for the National Health Research Forum – Straight Talk – was spot on! NIH Director Monica Bertagnolli, MD, in her keynote address yesterday, gave us straight talk on the challenges facing the research community, while also sharing the successes. As she said: “Our work is not finished when we deliver scientific discoveries, our work is finished when all people are living long and healthy lives.” The terrific speakers during the two-day Forum gave our audience the straight talk on “in the moment” topics such as the growing use of AI in drug development, nutrition and health in the U.S., navigating comorbidities in mental health, trust in science, a Washington report, and much more. We thank them and the panel moderators for their insightful contributions. A special thanks to our sponsors whose generosity made the event possible. You can watch the virtual sessions here. Stay tuned for a video of the in-person event very soon. Meanwhile, view photos from this amazing event.
On the Hill: Reps. André Carson (D-IN), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), and Joyce Beatty (D-OH) introduced H.Res.1458, designating Sept. 16-20 as “Medical Research Week.” Research!America sent a letter thanking the resolution sponsors for highlighting the importance of medical research. Please consider doing the same!
With only six legislative days remaining before the Sept. 30 federal budget deadline, Congress is working intensely to avoid a government shutdown. Research!America has strongly urged congressional leaders, along with the Biden Administration, to prevent both a government shutdown and a long-term CR. Please don’t hesitate to use our letters as a template; they can be viewed on the Research!America website here. Many of you have already taken action by using our action alert to urge your members of Congress to support a short-term CR and avoid a government shutdown—Bravo! We’re asking you to turn up the volume and amplify your advocacy by sending an individual message directly to your representatives. Our new cheat sheet guides you through the simple steps of contacting your members of Congress and provides sample language for your message.
Want Ad: STEM Talent: A new report from the National Academies – sponsored by the Department of Defense – calls for the nation to adopt a “whole of government strategy” to recruit and retain foreign-born science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) talent, or face the U.S. losing its position as a global leader in STEM. It also says the U.S. needs to do more to nurture domestic STEM talent as part of the national security innovation base. Ensuring a diverse STEM workforce with U.S. and international talent was cited as extremely important in the State of Science in America report issued late last year by the Science and Technology Action Committee (STAC). These reports add to the growing sense of urgency for the U.S. to maintain its global leadership position in science and technology. More on STAC below.
The State of U.S. Biomedical and Medical Research Enterprise: Mark your calendar for Oct. 1 for the release of a new National Academy of Medicine report on the State of U.S. Biomedical and Medical Research Enterprise in the U.S. I served on the committee authoring the report along with Research!America board members E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA (who chaired the report); Kafui Dzirasa, MD, PhD; Sudip Parikh, PhD; Keith Yamamoto, PhD; and Elias Zerhouni, MD. The report sheds light on how our research enterprise can continue to lead globally and meet the health needs of our population. Register here.
Lasker Awards: Congratulations to the winners announced today of the prestigious Lasker Awards, often referred to as “America’s Nobel:” I encourage you to go to the Lasker Foundation website to read more about the amazing award winners and their work that contributes to healthier, longer lives.
One Mind Celebration: Congratulations to the Staglin family and One Mind for a successful 30th Annual One Mind Music Festival for Brain Health, which wrapped up on Sept. 7. The event brought together leaders in science, philanthropy, and government with patients and families to hear reports on science and enjoy wine and music. Susan Monarez, MD, Deputy Director of ARPA-H, who recently led a members-only roundtable for Research!America, delivered the keynote at the One Mind event.
DYK: That nearly 10% of the U.S. population will experience an eating disorder sometime during their lifetime, or that eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness behind opiate addiction? Eating disorders are under-recognized and stigmatized at a staggering individual and societal cost. Join us on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 2 p.m. ET for an alliance discussion featuring Dr. Christine Peat, Director of the National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders and President of the Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action. We’ve asked Dr. Peat to discuss progress, achieved and needed, in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. Register to join the conversation.
ICYMI: I was in New York this past Monday night at the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) to join Nicholas Dirks (NYAS), Dario Gil (IBM and National Science Board chair), and Keith Yamamoto (UCSF) for a panel discussion, The United States of Science. Jo Craven McGinty of The Wall Street Journal moderated a lively discussion (the recording can be found here) that centered on STAC’s State of Science in America report, including the recommendation to develop a national strategy for S&T.
Speaking of a national strategy, STAC has organized a task force to develop a Vision for American Science and Technology (VAST) to maintain our leadership in S&T. We are gathering input across sectors and disciplines to create a policy document to inform both policymakers and advocates alike. Stay tuned to this space for more developments on VAST; learn how you can engage!