Advocacy Network Newsletter

Spotlight 

Apply Now! Early Career Policy Ambassadors Program Applications  

Apply now for SfN's Early Career Policy Ambassadors (ECPA) Program. Undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate students, as well as recent PhD/MD recipients, are encouraged to apply to this 10-month program. The ECPA Program allows early career scientists to enhance their advocacy skills with the neuroscience community, policymakers, and the public. Applications are open until Monday, January 6.   

SfN News

SfN Hosts Mini Fall Capitol Hill Day  

SfN hosted a mini fall Capitol Hill Day as a multiday, virtual event with 14 advocates in attendance, who participated in 13 meetings with key congressional offices. Participants advocated for robust funding for the Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative in FY 25 and support for the ethical and responsible use of animals in biomedical research in various appropriation and authorizing bills. Join your fellow NeuroAdvocates who participated in this Capitol Hill Day by urging your senators and representatives in Congress to support the BRAIN Initiative by maintaining or exceeding the total Senate-proposed funding level of $680.4 million. 

Federal News

President-Elect Trump Announces HHS and NIH Nominations  

Learn more about President-Elect Trump’s recent nominations for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and NIH. For Secretary of HHS, President-Elect Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and announced Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, to serve as director of NIH. Both nominees will have to be Senate-confirmed in the new year before taking office.  

Congress Considers New FY 25 Stopgap Bill 

Read more about continued Congressional negotiations ahead of the December 20 deadline under the current continuing resolution (CR). Congress is working to finalize a stopgap funding bill that will likely extend the FY 25 funding deadline into early next year. As Congress continues these negotiations in the coming weeks SfN will continue to update NeuroAdvocates on the FY 25 appropriations process. 

Watch: Director Bertagnolli Testifies on Capitol Hill  

Watch the recent hearing hosted by the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee. During the hearing, NIH Director Monica Bertagnolli, MD, testified on behalf of NIH. During the hearing, Subcommittee Chair Robert Aderholt reiterated the House-proposed NIH FY 25 funding level of $48.6 billion as a starting point in their discussions, acknowledging that robust funding for the NIH is instrumental to maintaining global leadership in biomedical research while maintaining the Subcommittee should investigate NIH reform. Director Bertagnolli also expressed how the BRAIN Initiative remains a high priority for NIH moving forward especially as mandatory funding through the 21st Century Cures Act expires after FY 26.  

Nature Publishes Article Highlighting the BRAIN Initiative  

Read the recently released article in Nature about the importance of sustained and robust funding for the BRAIN Initiative. The authors discuss the threat that the 40% cut to the FY 24 BRAIN Initiative’s budget poses to the future of neuroscience research and why restoring funding is imperative for this important program.  

NIBIB Director Highlights Impacts of the BRAIN Initiative  

Check out the recent blog post written by National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) Director Bruce J. Tromberg, PhD. This blog post is part of a series where NIH institutes and centers spotlight the positive impacts of the BRAIN Initiative on their respective missions. Read more about how the BRAIN Initiative has helped researchers in NIBIB continue their critical research, highlighting the BRAIN Initiative’s cross-institutional merit.  

• Send a message to your members of Congress via the Advocacy Action Center.      

• Watch the Neuroscientist’s Guide to Advocacy series to understand the tools you need to help advance the field.      

• Learn how to engage your members of Congress and effectively advocate for science with SfN's Advocacy Best Practices.      

• Get involved in global advocacy.      

• Talk to the public about the importance of animal research.      

• Reach out to advocacy@sfn.org for assistance in preparing for your next advocacy effort at home or on Capitol Hill.      

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