SfN Council Advances Global Partnerships
The SfN Council met April 17–18 at SfN’s headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C. During this spring meeting, Council approved edits to committee charters, heard updates from SfN’s committees, approved a proposed slate of committee member replacements, and prepared for Neuroscience 2024.
Spring Committee Updates
SfN hosted its 18th annual Hill Days as a virtual event March 12–14. Forty-six NeuroAdvocates representing 29 states met with 53 Congressional offices including one Congress member meeting with Representative Gabe Amo (RI-01). Participants advocated for Increased funding for NIH, NSF, the VA Medical and Prosthetics Research Program, and the BRAIN Initiative and the continued responsible use of animals in research. The Hill Days also served as an opportunity to advocate for Congressional visits and neuroscience lab tours.
Council heard updates from the Global Membership Committee on the reactivation of three SfN chapters: the Baton Rouge, Louisiana Chapter, the BayBrains Chapter in San Francisco, and the Minho, Portugal Chapter. SfN executed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Chinese Neuroscience Society for a three-year term from 2024–2026 to fund a travel award exchange program. SfN executed an additional MoU with the Japan Neuroscience Society to formally document a similar longstanding agreement for a travel exchange program. Council voted to approve an update to the Global Membership Committee charter formally anchoring these two memoranda to the committee.
The Committee on Committees (CoC) proposed a slate of new committee members to begin their terms in October 2024. The CoC’s mission is to ensure the continued reflection of SfN’s diverse members on the Society’s committees.
Council Visit to Capitol Hill and Meeting with NIH Institute Directors
As a part of their meeting, Council visited Capitol Hill and attended a BRAIN Initiative congressional briefing, of which SfN was a co-sponsor. Following the briefing, Council held its traditional meeting with the NIH institute directors for the 22nd year. This is part of a continuing conversation representing the organizations’ shared commitment to supporting the neuroscience community and how they can continue to work together. The NIH directors and SfN councilors had a robust discussion on pressing issues in the field such as ways to best support early career researchers, how institutions can support researchers using animal models, and updates on the BRAIN Initiative.
Neuroscience 2024
Neuroscience 2024 will be held in Chicago October 5–9, 2024. Staff and the Program Committee reviewed member feedback to build upon the success of Neuroscience 2023. Abstract submission opened April 23 and closed May 9. The Virtual Component Advisory Group (VCAG) reviewed options for virtual programming at Neuroscience 2024 based on data from Neuroscience 2022 and 2023. Based on post-meeting surveys, the VCAG recommended lectures be livestreamed from Chicago, virtual posters be included, and a reduction in fees for virtual-only attendees. Council approved these recommendations. In addition, Council also approved the creation of an archive of Presidential Special Lectures on Neuronline and members will be able to access the lectures beginning with Neuroscience 2024.
