Bioscience Briefing
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Science Policy Announcements
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Resource Book Now Available
Click here for more info on The APS Resource Book for the Design of Animal Exercise Protocols.
APS Science Policy Update
March 23, 2007
In this issue:
- Harkin and Specter add amendment to increase funding for NIH, CDC
- NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, Bridge grants
- Congress holds hearings on the FY 2008 NIH budget, APS to testify
- Science communications bill for program at NSF
Specter-Harkin amendment will increase funding for NIH, CDC
This week, Congress is considering the overall budget for FY 2008. Today, Senators Harkin and Specter were successful in adding an amendment to the budget that seeks to increase funding for both the CDC and NIH. You will recall that the administration’s budget proposal represents a $500 million cut for the NIH as compared to the final FY 2007 appropriation. Specter and Harkin are looking to restore that cut, as well as some of the purchasing power lost to sub-inflationary increases in recent years. At this time, it is not clear exactly how much the NIH budget would increase under this amendment.
NIH announces new awards
NIH has announced the creation of two new types of awards. The NIH Director’s New Innovator Award will go to new investigators who hold independent research positions, but have not yet received their first R01. Applicants are encouraged to submit innovative ideas from a broad range of scientific areas. More information can be found at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/innovator_award/
The second new award is the NIH Director’s Bridge Award (NDBA) for new and established investigators who have missed the payline for a competing renewal or A1 of a competing renewal. If the investigator has less than $200,000 in other funding, the IC to which their grant was submitted may nominate the grantee for a bridge award. Final decisions on funding will be made by the Office of the Director. The awards will be for one year only and provide up to $500,000 using the R56 grant mechanism. The idea is to allow time for revision and resubmission of the grant. Investigators may not apply for the award, but must be nominated by the IC to which their grant was submitted. For more information: http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-07-056.html
APS to testify at House Appropriations Hearing
On March 27, 2007, APS President-elect Hannah Carey will present testimony before the House of Representatives Appropriations Labor-HHS-Ed Subcommittee on FY 2008 funding for the National Institutes of Health. Click here to read the written statement submitted on behalf of the APS.
Scientific Communications Act of 2007
Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced a bill this week that would authorize funds at the National Science Foundation for training scientists to communicate with non-scientists (i.e. Congress). HR 1453 would authorize $10 million over each of the next five fiscal years for the program. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/Cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h1453ih.txt.pdf