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APS Science Policy Update
January 12, 2009
In this issue:
- President-elect Obama outlines science priorities in stimulus package
- Gerberding steps down as head of CDC
- Senate HELP considers Daschle nomination for HHS Secretary
- NIH defines extension policy for Early Stage Investigators
President-elect Obama on science in the stimulus
Speaking at George Mason University last week on priorities for the economic stimulus package, President-elect Obama cited a number of proposed investments in science and education. http://blogs.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2009/01/science-plays-k.html
Gerberding to leave CDC
After a controversial six years as Director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Dr. Julie Gerberding has announced her resignation effective January 20, 2009. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/11/AR2009011101283.html
Senate HELP considers Daschle nomination
From our colleagues in the FASEB Office of Public Affairs:
The Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee considered the nomination of former Sen. Tom Daschle as HHS Secretary at a hearing yesterday morning. Daschle’s written statement to the committee mentioned NIH and noted the 17% loss of purchasing power at the agency due to flat-funding. The NIH excerpt from his written testimony is included below. You can read his entire statement at http://help.senate.gov/Hearings/2009_01_08/Daschle.pdf or view a webcast of the hearing at http://help.senate.gov/Hearings/2009_01_08/2009_01_08.html.
In addition, according to an article in this morning’s issue of CQ Today, former Senator Daschle also indicated that “I want to reinstate a science-driven environment” in response to a question from Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) about whether he would end what she believed was politicization of HHS science agencies such as NIH and the FDA. The HELP Committee did not vote on the nomination which must also be considered by the Senate Finance Committee (which has jurisdiction over the appointment because HHS also oversees CMS). The Senate Finance Committee will hold its own confirmation hearing and vote to advance the nomination to the full Senate for final approval. No date has been set yet for the Finance Committee hearing.
NIH defines ESI extension policy
NIH has issued a notice (NOT-OD-09-034) outlining the process for requesting extensions to the Early Stage Investigator (ESI) period. NIH defines ESIs as investigators who have not been a PI on a major NIH research award and who are within ten years of completion of their terminal research degree or medical residency. A webform will be available on January 17, 2009 that will allow applicants to apply for an extension of their ESI status. Requests will be considered by the NIH ESI Extensions Committee, composed of senior-level NIH staff. Reasons for requesting an extension are outlined in the NIH notice. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-034.html
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