On January 10, 2012, the National Science Board (NSF) released recommendations on the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Merit Review Criteria. The Board made no changes to the criteria themselves but told NSF to provide definitions articulating the essential elements of the criteria.
Officials from several National Institutes of Health (NIH) ICDs will provide an update on research programs and policies at EB 2012 in San Diego. The session entitled “National Institutes of Health: Programs and Policies Update from Institutes” will take place from 2–4 PM on Tuesday, April 24 in Room 1A of the San Diego Convention Center.
APS submitted comments to a Request for Information from the Office of Science and Technology Policy concerning public access to peer-reviewed scholarly publications resulting from federally-funded research. In its comments, APS recommended that federal agencies “work in a collaborative manner with all stakeholders to develop an approach [to public access] that balances competing interests, ensures the rights of copyright owners, and provides for continued growth an innovation in scientific communication.”
NIH has established a new National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. APS outlines the details of the new Center and the new homes of programs previously housed in the National Center for Research Resources.
On December 17, 2011, Congress passed an omnibus spending bill containing fiscal year (FY) 2012 funding for most of the federal government, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and VA medical and prosthetic research.
On October 19, 2011, APS President Joey Granger, President-elect Sue Barman, Past President Peter Wagner and Science Policy Chair John Chatham met with officials at the NIH to discuss several issues of concern to APS members.
On December 15, 2011, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its long-awaited report, “Assessing the Necessity of Chimpanzees in Biomedical and Behavioral Research.” Following a briefing where the key findings were presented, NIH Director Francis Collins announced that NIH accepted the report and would begin implementing its recommendations.
The APS responded to an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking issued by the Department of Health and Human Services entitled Human Subjects Research Protections: Enhancing Protections for Research Subjects and Reducing Burden, Delay, and Ambiguity for Investigators.
In response to a request for input from the NIH on how best to manage resources in fiscally challenging times, the APS submitted a response recommending that the NIH consider the long term consequences of any changes to funding policy and focus on maintaining success rates at a level of at least 30%. APS also recommended using a diversity of approaches to alleviating the funding crunch, and continuing to prioritize funding for early stage investigators. (PDF)
In response to a request for information from the National Institutes of Health, APS submitted comments to the working group of the Advisory Committee to the Director that is examining the future of the biomedical workforce. (PDF)
The recently passed Budget Control Act will essentially freeze the budget at fiscal year 2011 levels for the next two years to allow the economy time to recover before imposing funding cuts.
NIH and AAALAC, Intl. both use the
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals as a standard for animal care and use programs, but each has different plans for implementing the new 8
th edition.
The APS sent a letter to cosponsors of the Pet Safety and Protection Act of 2011 (HR 2256) asking them to allow the NIH program to replace Class B dealers to come to fruition instead of implementing an immediate ban. (PDF)
The Office of Government Ethics proposed to change existing regulations such that federal employees would no longer have to obtain waivers to participate on non-profit boards as long as they comply with all conflict of interest rules set forth by their agency. The APS submitted comments in support of the rule change. (PDF)
On May 10, 2011 the APS sent a letter to Members of Congress recommending that the NIH be funded at a level of $35 billion in fiscal year 2012. (PDF)
APS leadership and Executive Director Marty Frank met with officials at the National Institutes of Health to discuss APS priorities.
On September 22, 2010, the European Union (EU) adopted a new set of requirements for the protection of animals in scientific procedures including those for research, education, and training. It will go into effect on January 1, 2013.
An article by article summary of EU Directive 2010/63 on animal welfare.
The APS has sent a letter to Director Collins outlining our concerns regarding elimination of National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) so that the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) can be created. (PDF)
NIH submitted a plan to the Senate Appropriations Committee to phase out the use by extramural researchers of dogs and cats purchased from Class B dealers over the next 4 years.
The American Physiological Society condemns all acts of violence or intimidation against individuals engaged in legitimate scientific inquiries intended to advance knowledge and improve health.
APS has posted two new position statements on animals in research: “Animal Research is Essential to the Search for Cures” and an updated “Guiding Principles for the Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals in Research and Training.”
The APS submitted comments on the NIH’s notice of proposed rulemaking on financial conflicts of interest for extramural researchers. (PDF)
Tips, talking points, and more ways you can stand up for science!
Biomedical research benefits us in many different ways. In order for it to continue to do so, it needs support from government and the public.
Step-by-step tips for getting in touch with your legislators.
On December 17, 2011, Congress passed an omnibus spending bill containing fiscal year (FY) 2012 funding for most of the federal government, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and VA medical and prosthetic research.
In response to a request for input from the NIH on how best to manage resources in fiscally challenging times, the APS submitted a response recommending that the NIH consider the long term consequences of any changes to funding policy and focus on maintaining success rates at a level of at least 30%. APS also recommended using a diversity of approaches to alleviating the funding crunch, and continuing to prioritize funding for early stage investigators. (PDF)
The recently passed Budget Control Act will essentially freeze the budget at fiscal year 2011 levels for the next two years to allow the economy time to recover before imposing funding cuts.
Links to organizations with helpful research funding advocacy resources.
Helpful links to government resources regarding federal research funding for NIH, NSF, Veterans Affairs, and NASA.
On May 10, 2011 the APS sent a letter to Members of Congress recommending that the NIH be funded at a level of $35 billion in fiscal year 2012. (PDF)
On April 14, 2011, Congress passed a bill to fund federal programs and agencies for the remainder of the current fiscal year.
On Tuesday, March 15, 2011 APS leadership met with several Congressional offices to discuss funding for biomedical research, the humane use of animals in research, and publications access.
The NIH, NSF, VA,and NASA all receive additional funding under the provisions of the 2009 stimulus package.
The APS Guiding Principles for the Care and Use of Animals in Research and other official positions on matters related to animal research.
Updates and analysis of current issues surrounding animal research.
Resources for facing animal rights extremists.
Materials developed by APS to help both researchers and the public.
Animal research is subject to a number of layers of regulation and oversight.
Information on animal research oversight and regulation.
A page from our animal research FAQ, "Animal Research: Finding Cures, Saving Lives," on animal research regulation in the United States.
Officials from several National Institutes of Health (NIH) ICDs will provide an update on research programs and policies at EB 2012 in San Diego. The session entitled “National Institutes of Health: Programs and Policies Update from Institutes” will take place from 2–4 PM on Tuesday, April 24 in Room 1A of the San Diego Convention Center.
On January 10, 2012, the National Science Board (NSF) released recommendations on the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Merit Review Criteria. The Board made no changes to the criteria themselves but told NSF to provide definitions articulating the essential elements of the criteria.
The National Science Board's full report of recommendations on the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Merit Review Criteria.(PDF)
On January 11, 2012, APS submitted comments to a Request for Information from the Office of Science and Technology Policy concerning public access to peer-reviewed scholarly publications resulting from federally-funded research. In its comments, APS recommended that federal agencies “work in a collaborative manner with all stakeholders to develop an approach [to public access] that balances competing interests, ensures the rights of copyright owners, and provides for continued growth an innovation in scientific communication.”
NIH has established a new National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Click for details of the new Center and the new homes of programs previously housed in the National Center for Research Resources.
On October 19, 2011, APS President Joey Granger, President-elect Sue Barman, Past President Peter Wagner and Science Policy Chair John Chatham met with officials at the NIH to discuss several issues of concern to APS members.
The APS responded to an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking issued by the Department of Health and Human Services entitled Human Subjects Research Protections: Enhancing Protections for Research Subjects and Reducing Burden, Delay, and Ambiguity for Investigators.
In response to a request for information from the National Institutes of Health, APS submitted comments to the working group of the Advisory Committee to the Director that is examining the future of the biomedical workforce. (PDF)
The APS provides feedback and analysis on the functionality of conflict of interest regulations.
APS leadership and Executive Director Marty Frank met with officials at the National Institutes of Health to discuss APS priorities.
On December 7, 2010 the NIH Scientific Management Review Board voted to recommend the creation of a new Center to focus on translational research.
The APS has sent a letter to Director Collins outlining our concerns regarding elimination of National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) so that the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) can be created. (PDF)
A survey conducted by the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) explores the amount of administrative burden experienced by faculty who receive federal research grants.