Government
and Public Affairs
Government and Public
Affairs Bulletins
May, 2008
ASPET Government and Public Affairs Report Appropriations Update
A House bill that would have
increased the set-aside for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
from 2.5% to 3.0% of the research budget of each agency failed.
However, Rep. Vern Ehlers’ (R-MI) amendment, supported by the AAU,
AAMC and FASEB, stripped the increase from a committee
reauthorization bill. Had the provision not been removed by
amendment, passage of the set-aside increase would have essentially
cut funding for other research programs at all agencies by $650
million.
There is also a supplemental spending bill being negotiated that is,
not surprisingly, grinding forward with debates over priorities and
war spending. There is potential for increased funding for
biomedical research in the supplemental bill, but that might be
difficult to realize. Nonetheless, a push has been made to
Congressional leaders and appropriators to consider additional funds
for NIH. There will be no progress on the actual FY 2009
Appropriations bills (exception is the Defense bill) until the
Supplemental is completed.
ASPET Letter Supports Passage of Genetic Information
Nondiscrimination Act
The Senate finally passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination
Act (GINA) by a vote of 95-0. The House also approved the bill
414-1. The President is expected to sign the bill. GINA prohibits
health insurance companies from using genetic information to deny
benefits and raise premiums for individual policies, and makes it
illegal for employers to use genetic information to make decisions
about hiring, firing or compensation. One of the obstacles for the
translation of pharmacogenetics to clinical practice is the risk for
the misuse of genetic information in health insurance and employment
decisions. Passage of GINA will “help researchers and clinicians to
actively encourage Americans to participate in clinical trials
without the fear of genetic discrimination,” said Joann Boughman,
Ph.D,, executive vice president of the American Society of Human
Genetics. Read ASPET’s letter of support for passage of the
legislation:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_pos_test.html
Global Alliance for
Pharmacogenomics
NIGMS and two other NIH institutes recently signed a letter of
intent with the Center for Genomic Medicine in Japan to create a
Global Alliance for Pharmacogenomics. The alliance will identify
genetic factors that contribute to individual responses to
medicines, with the eventual goal of helping doctors optimize the
safety and effectiveness of drugs for each patient. A news release
on the alliance is at:
http://www.nigms.nih.gov/News/Results/GAP-JAPAN04142008.htm
NIDA Director Testimony on the
Pharmacology of Addiction
NIDA Director Nora Volkow testified in front of the U.S. Senate
Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs regarding the
scope, pharmacology, and health consequences of cocaine abuse and
addiction.
http://www.nida.nih.gov/Testimony/2-12-08Testimony.html
Great Ape Protection Act
The Great Ape Protection Act (HR 5852) was introduced by Rep. Towns
(D-NY) would potentially prohibit the conduct of invasive research
on chimpanzees, gorillas, and other non-human primates. The bill
could affect the ability of researchers to perform non-invasive
behavioral research since it would prevent even blood draws.
Additionally, it would mandate federally-supported, permanent
retirement for all great apes currently used in federally-funded
research. The bill’s prospects are relatively remote at this stage.
But passage would have an important effect on research and public
health. ASPET is working with a broad coalition of interested
organizations to monitor this legislation.
Training Opportunity: NIGMS Summer Short Courses in Integrative &
Organ Systems Pharmacology
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences will once
again fund four summer short courses that provide specialized
training for using intact organ system and in vivo animal models in
the conduct of research. The purpose of each short course is to
introduce graduate students, post-docs and Ph.Ds to the knowledge
and skills needed for integrative studies of organ systems and
intact animals, and the physiological and biochemical responses of
these systems to drugs. These critical skills are in short supply.
Graduate students and Ph.Ds. with these skills are in great demand
in both academic and industrial settings. Summer Short Courses in
Integrative and Organ Systems Science are available at Michigan
State University, University of California at San Diego, University
of Nebraska Medical Center, and the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill. Please view:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_NIGMS_shortcourse_awards.html.
NIGMS is planning to continue the summer short courses from 2009
-2012.
ASPET-IOSS Fund Application Guidelines
The ASPET-IOSS Fund was created to provide support for graduate
students and post-doctoral researchers seeking training in
integrative whole organ systems sciences. The fund is currently
supported by Abbott Laboratories, Merck Research Laboratories,
Pfizer and Wyeth Research. The goal is to help augment developing
programs (see above) that provide training of students in this
field. For application, information, visit:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_ioss.html
FASEB NEWS
For FASEB biweekly news from Capitol Hill:
http://opa.faseb.org/.
Also available are links to the FASEB FY2009 Funding Recommendations
for Science Agencies and information about FASEB’s new voter
education initiative, ScienceCures.
Funding Opportunities
Toxicological Evaluation of Potential Medications to Treat Drug
Addiction
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DA-08-025.html
Pharmacologic Agents and Drugs for Mental Disorders
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-142.html
April 2008
ASPET Government and Public Affairs Report Appropriations Update
179 House members signed a March 19 letter to the House
Appropriations Committee leadership requesting a 6.5% increase for
the FY’09 NIH budget. The letter, sent to Reps. David Obey (D-WI)
and Jerry Lewis (R-CA), chair and ranking member, respectively of
the House Appropriations Committee, notes the Administration's
proposal to fund NIH at the current level "is deeply troubling given
the high rate of biomedical inflation.” Read ASPET’s written
testimony to the House Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee
supporting a 6.5% increase:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_pos_test.html
NIH Seeks Input on Current Needs in Pharmacogenomics Research
NIH invites responses from the scientific community, scientific
organizations, pharmaceutical companies, Federal Agencies, and other
interested parties well-versed in the areas of pharmacogenetics and
pharmacogenomics, to help identify crucial needs, gaps and
roadblocks to PGx research. NIH wants to identify ways in which the
agency can effectively and efficiently address these barriers.
Response due by April 30. View details at:
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-GM-08-125.html
ACTION ALERT
Legislative Action Needed to Pass Genetic Information
Nondiscrimination Act
A major obstacle for the translation of Pharmacogenetics to clinical
practice is the well-recognized risk for the misuse of genetic
information for the purposes of making health insurance and/or
employment decisions. Although there has been widespread legislative
support for Genetic Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) in the House, it
has yet to be passed by the Senate. Given the importance this issue
has for an important advancement for Pharmacology, all ASPET members
are encouraged to contact their Senators urging them to vote on
passage of the bill. Action in the Senate has been delayed by the
objections of one Senator (Coburn, R-OK). The only chance for
passing the bill in the Senate is to bring the bill to a floor vote
through a procedural mechanism in the next week or so. Senator Reid
(D-NV), the Senate Majority Leader can bring the bill to the floor,
but will do so only if he hears about GINA from different
constituencies. ASPET members in Nevada are urged to contact Senator
Reid’s office (tel: 202-224-3542) and ask that he bring the Genetic
Nondiscrimination Act (S.358) to the Senate Floor. All other ASPET
members should contact their respective Senate offices this week.
Ask your Senator(s) to contact Senator Reid’s office to encourage
him (Sen.Reid) to bring the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination
Act to the floor. Your Senator’s phone numbers can be found at:
http://geneticfairness.org/senator_list.html. Background
information on this issue can be viewed at:
http://www.geneticfairness.org/.
ACTION ALERT
ASPET Florida Members Needed to Defend Teaching of Evolution
There are currently two bills in the Florida House and Senate that
threaten the science curriculum in Florida’s public schools. Both
bills are entitled the "Academic Freedom Act." The bills, if passed,
would provide cover for the teaching of religious beliefs as science
in Florida's science classrooms. The bills would authorize the
"right to present scientific information relevant to the full range
of views on biological and chemical origins. Prohibit a teacher from
being discriminated against for presenting such information.
Prohibit students from being penalized for subscribing to a
particular position on evolution, etc." Creationists are working
under the guise of "academic freedom" to legally authorize the
teaching of inherently unscientific doctrine in science classes. If
passed, Teachers or administrators could use these bills to defend
the presentation of oft-refuted creationist attacks on evolutionary
sciences. The bills authorize the teaching of a "full range of views
on biological and chemical evolution," that would allow for
creationist and intelligent design ideology at the expense of
rigorously peer-reviewed material. Both bills also claim to protect
teachers and students from discrimination for their beliefs,
suggesting that discrimination exists where it does not, and to draw
attention away from the subject matter of creationism. ASPET members
in Florida are urged to contact their Legislators to convey your
strong support for science in Florida classrooms and opposition to
SB2692 and HB1483. To find your legislator, view: [House]
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/SECTIONS/Representatives/representatives.aspx
and [Senate]
http://www.flsenate.gov/Legislators/index.cfm?Mode=Member
Pages&Submenu=1&Tab=legislators&CFID=78606717&CFTOKEN=34571278.
Whether you call or write, state that you are opposed to the
Academic Freedom Act (Senate Bill 2692 / House Bill 1483). If
passed, this Act would provide cover for teaching religious beliefs
as science in Florida public schools and, in doing so, impair
students’ critical thinking skills, their ability to differentiate
scientific from non-scientific information, their success in the
21st century workplace; impact our state's economy that increasingly
rests on scientific industry and on the cultivation of scientific
knowledge in our classrooms. Although scientists continue to
question certain aspects of evolutionary science and conduct
research to explore its ramifications, the core elements of
evolution as presented in textbooks today have been repeatedly
tested and verified. Good science education includes teaching
evolution – it is not a matter of “academic freedom.” Students
should be tested on their knowledge of these well-understood
concepts, as embodied in the recently-passed state science
standards, and legislators should insist that students spend their
valuable classroom time learning, through classwork and homework,
the best knowledge that centuries of scientific investigation have
placed before them.
Farm Bill and Class B Dealers for
Research
The Farm Bill appears to be moving forward. This may present the
final opportunity to remove language prohibiting the use of
non-purpose bred animals from Class B dealers for research. We have
been informed that the offices of Senators Harkin (D-IA), Leahy
(D-VT), and Stabenow (D-MI) may be crucial in assuring this
provision does not move forward. FASEB has set up an legislative
alert on the FASEB Capwiz site for members from Iowa, Vermont, and
Michigan to take action:
http://capwiz.com/faseb/issues/alert/?alertid=11261751&type=CO
Training Opportunity: NIGMS Summer
Short Courses in Integrative & Organ Systems Pharmacology
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences will once
again fund four summer short courses that provide specialized
training for using intact organ system and in vivo animal models in
the conduct of research. The purpose of each short course is to
introduce graduate students, post-docs and Ph.Ds to the knowledge
and skills needed for integrative studies of organ systems and
intact animals, and the physiological and biochemical responses of
these systems to drugs. These critical skills are in short supply.
Graduate students and Ph.Ds. with these skills are in great demand
in both academic and industrial settings. Summer Short Courses in
Integrative and Organ Systems Science are available at Michigan
State University, University of California at San Diego, University
of Nebraska Medical Center, and the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill. Please view:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_NIGMS_shortcourse_awards.html.
NIGMS is planning to continue the summer short courses from 2009
-2012.
ASPET-IOSS Fund Application Guidelines
The ASPET-IOSS Fund was created to provide support for graduate
students and post-doctoral researchers seeking training in
integrative whole organ systems sciences. The fund is currently
supported by Abbott Laboratories, Merck Research Laboratories,
Pfizer and Wyeth Research. The goal is to help augment developing
programs (see above) that provide training of students in this
field. For application, information, visit:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_ioss.html
Schedule of National Animal Welfare Education Programs. Workshops
and Conferences
View:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-043.html
FASEB NEWS
For FASEB biweekly news from Capitol Hill:
http://opa.faseb.org/.
Also available are links to the FASEB FY2009 Funding Recommendations
for Science Agencies and the launch of FASEB’s new voter education
initiative, ScienceCures.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)
New Award for Early Career Faculty.
The award is aimed at researchers who have run their own labs for
two to six years and are at a critical point in establishing their
own independent research programs. HHMI plans to select as many as
70 early career scientists from a wide range of scientific
disciplines relevant to biological and medical inquiry. Scientists
will receive six-year, non-renewable appointments to HHMI and
substantial research support necessary to move their research in
creative, new directions. HHMI will invest more than $300 million in
this first group of scientists and plans a second competition in
2011. Visit:
http://www.hhmi.org/research/competitions/earlycareer2009/.
Funding Opportunities
Toxicological Evaluation of Potential Medications to Treat Drug
Addiction
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DA-08-025.html
Pharmacologic Agents and Drugs for Mental Disorders
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-142.html
March 2008
ASPET Government and Public Affairs Report Appropriations Update
The President’s FY’09 budget was
released last month. The request for NIH is $29.2 billion which is
equal to the FY’08 appropriation. The biomedical research community
is advocating for an increase in the NIH by $1.9 billion in FY’09.
The President’s proposed budget is the 6th consecutive year that the
NIH does not keep pace with inflation. If the President’s FY’09
budget were to become law it would amount to NIH losing nearly 14%
of its purchasing power to inflation over the past six years. FASEB,
the National Health Council, The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research,
the Campaign for Medical Research, and Research!America have issued
a joint statement urging Congress to accelerate medical progress by
increasing investment in the NIH:http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_pos_test.html
The President’s budget proposal for FDA is $2.4 billion. This
includes an appropriation of $1.77 billion and $628 million in user
fees (a 3.1% and 14.4% increase, respectively) over the FY’08 level.
The Alliance for a Stronger FDA is advocating for a $2.1 billion
FY’09 appropriation, approximately a $380 million increase above the
president’s level, not including user fees. For additional
information on FDA funding visit: <www.StrengthenFDA.org> The Bush
budget is dead on arrival. But even lame-duck presidents can still
veto appropriations bills. President Bush will continue to do so
until he leaves office in January 2009 and he will almost certainly
veto any spending bill that is over his requested spending level.
Once again, the likelihood of greater than inflation adjusted
budgets is remote. It is possible a new president could enact an
increase in some discretionary spending accounts upon taking office
next January if the FY’09 budget is still not resolved. The new
fiscal year begins October 1 but there will almost certainly be
another in a series of continuing resolutions passed to keep
government agencies operating well past October 1.
Training Opportunity: NIGMS Summer
Short Courses in Integrative & Organ Systems Pharmacology
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences will once again
fund four summer short courses that provide specialized training for
using intact organ system and in vivo animal models in the conduct
of research. The purpose of each short course is to introduce
graduate students and Ph.Ds to the knowledge and skills needed for
integrative studies of organ systems and intact animals, and the
physiological and biochemical responses of these systems to drugs.
These critical skills are in short supply. Graduate students and
Ph.Ds. with these skills are in great demand in both academic and
industrial settings. Summer Short Courses in Integrative and Organ
Systems Science are available at Michigan State University,
University of California at San Diego, University of Nebraska
Medical Center, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Please view:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_NIGMS_shortcourse_awards.html.
NIGMS is planning to continue the summer short courses from 2009
-2012.
ASPET-IOSS Fund Application Guidelines
The ASPET-IOSS Fund was created to provide support for graduate
students and post-doctoral researchers seeking training in
integrative whole organ systems sciences. The fund is currently
supported by Abbott Laboratories, Merck Research Laboratories,
Pfizer and Wyeth Research. The goal is to help augment developing
programs (see above) that provide training of students in this
field. For application information, visit:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_ioss.html
Schedule of National Animal Welfare Education Programs. Workshops
and Conferences
View:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-043.html
FASEB NEWS
For FASEB biweekly news from Capitol Hill:
http://opa.faseb.org/ . Also
available are links to the FASEB FY2009 Funding Recommendations for
Science Agencies and the launch of FASEB’s new voter education
initiative, ScienceCures.
February 2008
ASPET Government and Public Affairs Report Appropriations Update
NIH Appropriations
Congress at last finished its work on the FY’08 budget combining
eleven appropriations bills into one large omnibus legislative bill.
NIH receives $28,942 billion in FY’08. This amounts to a $329
million increase; however NIH is being asked to transfer $196
million to the Global Aids Fund. Taking into account the transfer,
NIH’s increase is just 0.46%, a $133 million increase.
NIGMS Renews RFA for Short Courses in Integrative and Organ Systems
Pharmacology
Details:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_ioss.html or
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-GM-08-010.html.
All inquiries should be directed to Richard T. Okita, Ph.D.- Program
Director, NIGMS - Tel: 301-594-3827 - Fax: 301-480-2802 -
okitar@nigms.nih.gov.
ASPET-IOSS Fund Application Guidelines
The ASPET-IOSS Fund was created to provide support for graduate
students and post-doctoral researchers seeking training in
integrative whole organ systems sciences. The fund is currently
supported by Abbott Laboratories, Merck Research Laboratories,
Pfizer and Wyeth Research. The goal is to help augment developing
programs (see above) that provide training of students in this
field. For application information, visit:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_ioss.html
FDA Coalitions Merge
Two organizations dedicated to advocating for greater congressional
funding levels for the FDA have merged to form the Alliance for a
Stronger FDA. ASPET remains a member of this organization (previous
affiliation was the former FDA Alliance) and has assisted in various
grassroots efforts. The new alliance hopes to deliver more
consistent messages to the public, media, congress, and the
Administration. The Alliance for a Stronger FDA website is expected
to be updated in the next few days:
www.StrengthenFDA.org
AAMC Symposium: The Scientific Basis of Influence and Reciprocity
AAMC has published the findings of a symposium on the scientific
basis of influence and reciprocity. The symposium, held in June
2007, summarized the latest evidence from neuroscience and the
behavioral sciences that addresses the challenges to objectivity
presented by gifts, favors, and influence in academic medicine. The
symposium report is available for free online. View:
http://www.aamc.org/reciprocity NIH Issues Revised Policy
Statement on Public Access
Public Access
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Jan. 11 issued a revised
policy statement reflecting that compliance with the agency's
"public access" rules is now required by statute, specifically the
recent "Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008." The legislation
requires that all investigators funded by NIH ensure that an
electronic version of their final, peer-reviewed manuscripts
accepted for publication is submitted to the National Library of
Medicine within 12 months of the official date of publication.
New NCCAM Director
Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., was named director of the National Center
for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). An accomplished
researcher and physician, Dr. Briggs brings a focus on translational
research to the study of complementary and alternative medicine
(CAM) to help build a fuller understanding of the usefulness and
safety of CAM practices: Visit:
http://nccam.nih.gov/about/director/
USP Announces 2008 Internships
USP has six summer internships that will begin May 18 and continue
until mid-August at USP Headquarters in Rockville, MD. The USP 2008
Summer Internship Program offers the opportunity for students to
spend twelve weeks at USP working on a defined project that will
assist USP in the areas of: Quality of Manufactured Medicines
(including biologic and veterinary medicines),Quality of Compounded
Medicines (human and veterinary), Quality of Food Ingredients and
Dietary Supplements, Quality of Patient Care, Global Public Health,
and Public Health Policy. Details:
http://www.usp.org/aboutUSP/careers/internship.html. The
deadline for submitting applications is February 15, 2008.
ASPET Co-signs Letter to Texas
Education Agency /Evolution Controversy
A letter co-signed by ASPET and other professional societies to the
Texas Education Agency (TEA) expresses concern over the forced
resignation of the agency’s Director of Science who was disciplined
for sending an email advertising a talk by a proponent of evolution
education. The Texas Education Agency said that the Director’s email
implies that the TEA endorses the speaker’s position on a subject on
which the agency must remain neutral. The letter states that “it is
unacceptable for the TEA to remain neutral on the topic of
evolution.” View:
http://opa.faseb.org/pdf/2008/Evolution%20letter%20Castillo-Comer-Final.pdf.
See related link:
http://opa.faseb.org/pages/PolicyIssues/sciencecoalition.htm for
article concerning the coalition of scientific societies (includes
ASPET) Evolution in Science Survey.
FASEB NEWS
For FASEB biweekly news from Capitol Hill:
http://opa.faseb.org/.
Also available are links to the FASEB FY2009 Funding Recommendations
for Science Agencies and the launch of FASEB’s new voter education
initiative, ScienceCures.
Funding Opportunities
Drug Docking and Screening Data
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-GM-08-008.html
Assessment of Potential Cocaine Pharmacotherapies in Monkeys
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DA-08-024.html
|