Weekly Advocacy News Roundup

Obama’s Science Legacy: Betting Big on Biomedical Science

August 22, 2016 | Nature 

Throughout his presidency, and especially in the early years, Obama faced some difficulty, in getting increased funding for science agencies. However, his strong support for biomedical science resulted in major science initiatives to develop personalized medical treatments, to treat cancer, and the BRAIN Initiative to map the brain.

• Find science funding resources at SfN.org.

Ministry Purge may be a Lifeline for Embattled Russian Academy of Sciences

August 22, 2016 | Science 

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently fired his science minister, and some scientists see this move as a possible positive move for the Russian Academy of Sciences. The Academy is undergoing a downsizing that was being led by the former minister, and scientists are hopeful the new minister may reassess the ongoing reforms.

• Read about global advocacy programs at SfN.org.

Deaths of Nine Retired Research Chimps Ignite Biology Feud

August 18, 2016 | Wired

The recent deaths of nine retired research chimpanzees at Chimp Haven sanctuary has led to many questions and discussions about how the retirement of these animals should be approached. NIH has announced that all of their research chimpanzees will be retired and relocated to the sanctuary by 2021.

• Join the Advocacy Network to stay informed about issues related to neuroscience research at SfN.org. 

Scientists Now Know the Brain Chemistry Behind Pavlov’s Famous Dog Experiment

August 23, 2016 | Quartz

A team of neuroscientists studied the real-time neurotransmitter changes in the brains of classically conditioned mice, and the results show how neurotransmitters change as we learn and make decisions. Most research about decision making has come from fMRI studies, so these real-time studies help to increase our understanding of the processes that occur in the brain.

• Read about technologies used in neuroscience research at BrainFacts.org.

Like Humans, Chimps Reward Cooperation and Punish Freeloaders

August 22, 2016 | Scientific American

New research suggests that chimps prefer cooperating over competing, and that chimps work together at similar rates to humans. In addition, violence observed among the animals in this study was often directed at an individual that was not being a team player.

• Learn about the importance of animal research at SfN.org.

The Potential Zika Threat to Adult Brain Cells

August 18, 2016 | The Atlantic

Zika poses a threat to pregnant women and their fetuses, and new research suggests that Zika may also damage adult brains. Researchers found evidence in rodents that the virus may effect stem cells in the adult brain, which can result in cell death and impaired brain functioning.

• Learn about how animal models are being used to study Zika at BrainFacts.org.

Go Forth and Replicate!

August 24, 2016 | Nature

Conventions around replicating studies are still being developed, and this editorial urges researchers to attempt replication and cooperate with others looking to replicate their work. In addition, funders and publishers should support tools to help researchers do so.

• Learn about the process of publishing a paper on Neuronline.