August 2024
FY 25 Appropriations Update
The House Appropriations Committee (HAC) and Senate Appropriations Committee (SAC) have released their proposed funding levels for FY 25. SfN requested $51.303 billion in funding for NIH. HAC proposed $48.581 billion, and SAC proposed $48.851 billion in total program funding. For the BRAIN Initiative, SfN requested $740 million in funding. HAC proposed $91 million, and SAC proposed $450 million. For NSF, SfN requested $11.9 billion. HAC proposed $9.3 billion, and SAC proposed $9.55 billion. or the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Program, SfN requested $1.05 billion in funding. HAC proposed $923.5 million, and SAC proposed $878 million. It is not expected for any final FY25 appropriation bills to pass before November given the Presidential election and a series of continuing resolutions will be needed between October 1, 2024, and the passage of a final package to avoid a government shutdown.
Meet the 2024 Early Career Policy Ambassador, Elena Kozina, on Neuronline
Learn more about Early Career Policy Ambassador (ECPA), India Pursell’s research and advocacy projects. Explore the entire Meet the ECPA collection on Neuronline, SfN’s home for learning and discussion.
SfN Advocacy News
2024 ECPAs Participate in Congressional Days
2024 ECPAs participated in SfN’s fourth annual congressional days where eight ECPAs across eight states met virtually with their congressional offices, for a total of 19 meetings. Discussions included the research being done by the ECPAs, the importance of continued and robust funding for biomedical research especially for the BRAIN Initiative, and the critical need for the use of animals in biomedical research. Join in on the advocacy efforts by to support neuroscience research in FY 25.
Read SfN’s Comments to Next-Generation Cures Bill RFI
Read SfN’s submitted comments to the request for information (RFI) issued by Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN) seeking input on advancing the work of the 21st Century Cures Act, and the Cures 2.0 Act, introduced in 2021. SfN’s response focuses heavily on the BRAIN Initiative and the successes made possible through Cures funding, emphasizing the need to continue supporting the BRAIN Initiative and its critical research.
SfN Featured in Article on BRAIN Initiative Funding
Read the article recently released by The Transmitter highlighting advocacy for BRAIN Initiative funding in FY 25. The article includes SfN’s action alert calling for the Senate Appropriations Committee level of $450 million in funding for the BRAIN initiative in FY 25. message and personalize it by including why robust federal funding for the BRAIN Initiative is critical to your research and necessary to advance the understanding of the brain.
Save the Date: Advocacy Events at Neuroscience 2024
Mark your calendars for exciting advocacy events during Neuroscience 2024 in Chicago, October 5–9.
Early Career Poster Session
Saturday, October 5, 6:30–8:30 p.m. CDT
McCormick Place Convention Center, Hall A
Join SfN advocacy for the Early Career Poster session, where current Early Career Policy Ambassadors will present their advocacy work from the past year.
Animals in Research Panel
Monday, October 7, 1:30–3 p.m. CDT
McCormick Place Convention Center, Room N229
Attend the Animals in Research Panel. Hear from researchers in the field, including National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Director Walter Koroshetz, MD, and a patient with spinal muscular atrophy, discuss how animal research has led to groundbreaking discoveries in neuroscience and successes from the lab to patient care.
The Advocacy Forum
Tuesday, October 8, 2–3:30 p.m. CDT
McCormick Place Convention Center, Room N229
Attend the Advocacy Forum to hear from panelists on the latest breakthroughs in addiction research and the role of policymakers and advocacy in treating addiction.
The Latest From the Hill
Request for Information: NIH Draft Public Access Policy
NIH is seeking comments from the public on the NIH Draft Public Access Policy and two supplemental draft guidance documents regarding government use licenses and rights and costs for publications. The NIH Draft Public Access Policy builds upon NIH's long history of providing public access to scholarly publications resulting from the research it supports and proposes additional steps to accelerate access. Responses must be submitted by Monday, August 19.
Request for Information: Re-Envisioning NIH-Supported Postdoctoral Training
NIH issued an RFI seeking public input on effectively implementing recommendations from the Advisory Committee to the Director Postdoctoral Working Group to address current challenges affecting the postdoctoral trainee community. NIH is particularly interested in receiving input from trainees, early-stage investigators, biomedical faculty, training directors, postdoctoral and graduate student office leaders, and research education program advocates. Comments must be submitted by Wednesday, October 23.
Senate Releases FY 25 Appropriations Bills
The Senate Appropriations Committee recently passed its Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) bill which includes $9.55 billion for NSF, an increase of $490 million above FY 24 funding levels. The committee also passed the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill which includes $50.224 billion for NIH, an increase of $2.05 billion over FY 24 funding levels. Additionally, Senate the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill was passed through committee, including $878 million for the VA Medical and Prosthetics Research Program, marking a $65 million decrease from FY 24 funding levels and $45.5 million below the FY 25 House-passed level. The House is currently in its August recess and has yet to pass the FY 25 CJS and LHHS bills on the floor.
SfN Advocacy Resources
- 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.
- Learn more about SfN's Early Career Policy Ambassadors.
Across the Field
Action Alert: Protect the Use of Animals in Research at the VA
Urge members of Congress to oppose ending animal research at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In the MilCon-VA bill, lawmakers included language to end animal research with canines, felines, and nonhuman primates at the VA by 2026. Many research projects that include these animals are still years away from completion.
NIH Director Testifies on FY 25 Funding
Read about Monica Bertagnolli, MD, Director of NIH, testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies on the FY 25 NIH budget. Director Bertagnolli stated that by engaging government, industry, and academic partners, the NIH will enable health innovation on a national scale, supporting secure research access to data with advanced analytics and computational power. Congressional leaders stressed the importance of NIH’s work and the need for continued robust funding.
House Passes First FY 25 Spending Bill
Learn about the recent passage of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (MilCon-VA) for 2025 by the House of Representatives, marking the first FY 25 spending bill. The bill passed 209–197, largely along party lines, with four Democrats voting in support of the bill and two Republicans voting against the bill. The MilCon-VA Appropriations Act includes $923.514 million in funding for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Program in FY 25, a decrease of $19 million from the FY 24 enacted level.
Senator Cassidy Releases White Paper on NIH Modernization
Read the recently released white paper by Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, synthesizing responses to his September 2023 request for information (RFI) on NIH reform, including proposals on NIH’s basic research portfolio, the application and peer review process, the biomedical research workforce, research integrity, and NIH’s grant management process.
Save the Date: Rally for Medical Research Hill Day
Attend the 12th Annual Rally for Medical Research Hill Day, taking place Thursday, September 19, in Washington, D.C. The event will bring patients, caregivers, researchers, clinicians, and other advocates together for meetings with congressional offices in support of funding for NIH. A reception for attendees will be held Wednesday, September 18. Registration will be opening soon!
