Tell Congress to Avoid a Partial Shutdown
Policy
Tell Congress to Avoid a Partial Shutdown
Although Congress approved the NIH’s funding for the current fiscal year, it has yet to do so for the National Science Foundation (NSF). Unless Congress acts before December 7, NSF and several other agencies will shut down when their funding in the current Continuing Resolution expires. Contact your members of Congress today and tell them to finish their work and provide robust funding for NSF in 2019.
ILAR Study Requests Feedback on Committee Selections
November 12, 2018 | Washington Post
The Department of Veterans Affairs has contracted a study by the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) entitled, “Assessment of the Care and Use of Dogs in Research Funded by or Conducted at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.” The current committee is provisional, and the biomedical research community is asked to provide feedback on the current selections. Researchers and animal care professionals, especially those with canine model experience, can provide their feedback on committee selections to ILAR no later than December 6.
What I Learned from Facing My Fears Doing Science Advocacy as a Grad Student
November 28, 2018 | Neuronline
Each stage of a scientist's career is filled with unique challenges that seem like roadblocks to becoming an advocate. Graduate school is no exception, but early career scientists should be advocating for science, as what this year’s budget provides can alter our career trajectories.
Science in the News
Increasing Number of iPS Cell Therapies Tested in Clinical Trials
November 28, 2018 | The Scientist
In a surgical procedure last month, neurosurgeons from Kyoto University implanted 2.4 million cells into the brain of a patient with Parkinson’s disease. The cells — derived from peripheral blood cells of an anonymous donor — had been reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and then into dopaminergic precursor cells, which researchers hope will boost dopamine levels and ameliorate the patient’s symptoms.
Researchers Develop New Strategy for Detecting Consciousness
November 21, 2018 | The Scientist
Neuroscientists at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City have come up with an easier way to test for covert consciousness: measuring electroencephalogram (EEG) responses to human speech. EEG uses a net of electrodes pasted onto the scalp to measure electrical activity in the brain and is cheaper and much more widely available than fMRI. The EEG can be done at a patient’s bedside, which makes it easier to access.
Brain Implants Let Paralyzed People Use Tablets to Send Texts and Stream Music
November 21, 2018 | Science News
Devices that eavesdrop on neural activity can help paralyzed people command computer tablets to stream music, text friends, check the weather or surf the internet. Three people with paralysis below the neck were able to navigate off-the-shelf computer tablets using an electrode array system called BrainGate2.
Top Ten Universities for Animal Research Announced (UK)
November 20, 2018 | Understanding Animal Research
Understanding Animal Research, an organization promoting greater openness about animal research, has today released a list of the ten universities in the UK that conduct the highest number of animal procedures — those used in medical, veterinary and scientific research.
