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The American Physiological Society
Integrating the Life Sciences from Molecule to Organism
9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20814

Dear APS members,

I am writing to request your help with a FASEB project I am participating in on behalf of the APS. As I am sure you are all aware, this year's federal budget proposal holds the budget of NIH flat at last year's level of $28.6 billion. Given the slow rate of NIH's budget growth in recent years coupled with high rates of inflation, this is an effective cut to biomedical research at the agency. Obviously it is very important to convince Members of Congress that increased funding for research should be a priority, but what research advocates are hearing from Congress lately is "what have we gotten for the NIH budget doubling? Where are our cures?"

In order to answer these questions and help Congress understand why there is a lengthy timeline on returns from investments in basic research, FASEB is asking its member societies to provide examples of benefits to medicine and/or society that can be traced to recent investments in biomedical research. I have volunteered to participate in this effort so I am asking APS members for examples from their area of expertise. These examples should include a description of the research, how it has led to breakthroughs or benefits, and an idea of how long the process took. Materials developed will be used in communications with Congress on behalf of FASEB and APS members.

Participation in this effort represents a chance for us to get physiology onto the FASEB public affairs agenda, and gain broader visibility for our members' research. Please forward any examples you can provide to Rebecca Osthus in the APS public affairs office by March 28 (rosthus@the-aps.org). If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Rebecca or myself (BENOS@PHYSIOLOGY.UAB.EDU).

Thank you in advance for your help on this important project!

Sincerely,

Dale Benos
President-Elect American Physiological Society

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