Mary Woolley

Dear Research Advocate: Is a rescission proposal to cut funding from the recently enacted FY18 omnibus appropriations bill possible? Unfortunately, we can’t rule it out, despite indications from some House and Senate Republicans that they would not vote to backpedal from approved spending. But, we have also been hearing that agencies are having to plan for a possible rescission and a recent article in Politico quotes Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) saying “it’s worth a discussion.” I urge you to join that discussion. Backtracking on support for science is not a productive way forward for a nation proud to set the world’s global economic high-water mark. Whether you took action...

Dear Research Advocate, Almost 30 years ago to the day, April 2, 1988, President Ronald Reagan delivered a radio address to the nation on the federal government’s role in scientific research. “We cannot know where scientific research will lead. The consequences and spin-offs are unknown and unknowable until they happen. But one thing is certain: If we don't explore, others will, and we'll fall behind.” The fact that the FY18 omnibus cites concerns that “China and 34 other competitors are outpacing the United States in terms of research spending,” demonstrates that President Reagan’s words ring true today. Our job now, to paraphrase former Congressman and Research!America Board Member Bart...

Dear Research Advocate, Last night, nearly 500 people joined us for Research!America’s 22nd Annual Advocacy Awards Dinner. We had the honor of presenting Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) with the Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy , welcomed surprise guest, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and had the privilege of honoring other truly inspirational leaders and leading organizations in science and advocacy. If you were not able to be with us, I encourage you to check out our dinner recap . You can also see photos and comments about the Advocacy Awards Dinner from attendees on Twitter by searching #RAawards18. For all of us at Research!America, it was...

Dear Research Advocate: The nation continues to reel in the aftermath of the Parkland massacre. This tragedy has raised the profile of both gun violence and mental illness, each of which demands attention in its own right. I hope you will take the opportunity to read a recent blog post Research!America member the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) posted on this topic. Each year, 43 million Americans experience a mental illness. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S and depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide – and these just scratch the surface of the challenge. The R&D pipeline in the mental health arena, and in other areas of neurobiological...