Science Policy Insider News
Science Policy Insider News (May 2009)
Capitol Hill Poster Session Showcases NIH-Funded Behavioral and Social Science Research
NIH’s Raynard Kington Defends Obama’s Research Priorities
In testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education on May 21, Acting NIH Director Raynard Kington thanked Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) and the Congress for the unprecedented $10.4 billion investment Congress provided for NIH in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) as well as the 3.2% increase for the agency in Fiscal Year 2009.
Science GRO Staffer Testifies before Congress on VA Research Funding
Heather Kelly, an APA member and Science Directorate staffer, presented APA’s oral testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies which drafts the annual appropriations legislation that funds the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). President Obama recently announced his budget proposing $580 million for the VA research account – an increase of $70 million.
Friends of NIDA Sponsor Award at Intel Science Fair
Three high school students were honored with the Addiction Sciences Awards from NIDA for the second year; this year co-funding their research. NIDA may be setting a trend that other NIH Institutes and Centers will follow to stimulate high school students to think about health sciences research.
Friends of NIAAA Coalition Host Congressional Briefing on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
On May 20th, a congressional briefing, titled “Alcohol and Pregnancy: An Overview of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders” was presented. It featured an historical overview of how research has changed basic understanding of alcohol and pregnancy; recent findings on the consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure, focusing on the changes that occur in the brain and how these impact behavior; and about women and addiction.
Basic and Applied Defense Research Levels Down in President’s Budget
President Obama's 2010 budget has increased research spending in most areas, but has decreased the DoD Science and Technology funding by almost 15%. The effect of how these cuts will impact behavioral research is unknown, but Science GRO and colleagues in the university and scientific association community will urge Congress to reverse cuts to the DoD program.
NSF’s Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Receive Boost in President’s Budget
President Obama's proposed 2010 budget increased the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s by 8.5% and the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) by 6.9%, in comparison to the current year's budget.
Human Genome Institute Seeks Input for Research Planning
The Human Genome Institute at NIH (NHGRI) is inviting comment on several white papers (details can be found on their website). APA will submit comments on behalf of its members, and will urge NHGRI to enhance interdisciplinary training opportunities and to fund more studies of gene-environment interaction, paying particular attention to the many nested environments that affect the activation of genes.
