Weekly Advocacy News Roundup
News
Ebola. Zika. Could a Rapid-Response Fund Help the U.S. Address Crises Faster?
August 15, 2016 | Stat News
As Congress remains deadlocked over emergency funding to combat Zika, the House version of the Labor, Health and Human Services spending bill includes a new reserve fund that CDC could use in the next infectious disease crisis. The Senate would need to add this fund to their version of the Senate bill, followed by Congress passing the bill, for this fund to take effect.
- Learn about how animal models are being used to study Zika at BrainFacts.org.
Treasury To ‘Guarantee’ Post-Brexit Funding for EU Research Projects
August 13, 2016 | Times Higher Education
The UK Treasury announced it would “guarantee” research projects currently funded by the European Union (EU) after Brexit. This announcement is in response to concerns from UK scientists about how the UK’s exit from the EU would impact research funding.
- Find information about the science funding process in the UK at SfN.org.
NIH: Last Federal Chimps To Head to Sanctuary by Fall 2026
August 11, 2016 | ABC News
NIH announced that the last of its chimpanzees will be moved to a sanctuary by 2026. This announcement clarifies the timeline of the previously announced plans that NIH would end research on chimpanzees and relocate them to a sanctuary, Chimp Haven, in Louisiana.
- Learn about the importance of animal research at SfN.org.
Articles of Interest
Maps Reveal Genetic Landscape of Developing Monkey Brain
August 12, 2016 | Spectrum News
Researchers have charted gene expression in brain of rhesus monkeys at time points including before birth through adulthood. These maps will help researchers further understand brain development and may help researchers understand what changes occur in conditions such as autism.
- Read about technologies used in neuroscience research at BrainFacts.org.
Study Highlights the Domino Effect of Federal Research Funding
August 16, 2016 | AroundtheO
A new study examining NSF funding data and funding from state/local government, nonprofits, and industry shows that there is a relationship between levels of federal research funding and nonfederal funding, suggesting that federal investment in research encourages funding from other sources. The study may help address policy discussions around whether federal funding discourages or encourages funding from other sources.
- Find science funding resources at SfN.org.
Opinion
Citizen Science Isn’t Just About Collecting Data
August 15, 2016 | Slate
Citizen science, defined as everyday people using their experiences and interests to participate in scientific projects, has grown in popularity as people contribute data about earthquakes, bird counts, and other projects. This article discusses how citizens can do even more than just collect data, including educating themselves about the research process, getting involved in decisions about what gets research, and how research results should be used.
- Learn about neuroscience public education programs at SfN.org.
The Changing Face of Scientific Collaboration
August 14, 2016 | The Chronicle of Higher Education
While middle authors on journal papers used to not have defined roles on a project, this culture has started to change as scientists now ask what percentage of the work was done by each of these individuals and what role they had. This shift will have ripple effects across the field as it will impact publication practices at journals, personnel hiring, and grants.
- Learn about the process of publishing a paper on Neuronline.
