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APS Science Policy Update

May 1, 2006

In this issue:

  • Recent editorials on the NIH budget
  • FASEB Washington Update

Recent Editorials In recent weeks, several editorials have appeared in scientific journals addressing the deteriorating funding situation at the NIH.

Joseph Loscalzo wrote a Perspective for the New England Journal of Medicine entitled "The NIH Budget and the Future of Biomedical Research." The article gave a broad view of the biomedical research enterprise, outlined the current budget problems and offered some suggestions for dealing with the situation. http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/354/16/1665

Harold Varmus and J. Michael Bishop authored an editorial in last week's issue of Science that offered a defense of the NIH in response to criticisms of the agency's policies. See "Re-Aim Blame for NIH's Hard Times": http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/reprint/312/5773/499.pdf

FASEB Washington Update The latest FASEB Washington Update highlights the factors complicating passage of the budget resolution. Typically appropriators wait for passage of the budget before allocating funds for the individual appropriations bills; however, this year the process has been disrupted by a number of factors, including strained budgets and election year politics. http://opa.faseb.org/pdf/washingtonupdate/WashingtonUpdate_April_28_06.pdf