More than One Kind of Hero
The just-announced Nobel Prizes (discussed below) honor heroes from several disciplines, but let me start with another group of heroes: federal employees. Every single one of their jobs is focused on protecting and promoting the best for our country and its people, yet federal employees are bearing the brunt of the government shutdown. Our elected leaders need to address this, and quickly.
The pressure is mounting. Tomorrow is the first day federal workers will miss a paycheck. On Oct. 15, military workers won’t receive their checks.
We cannot predict when the shutdown will end, but one possibility — once the ACA subsidy and other policy issues are resolved — is a “minibus” that includes largely agreed-upon funding bills, such as the “Military Construction-VA” bill and the “Agriculture” bill, which includes funding for the FDA. The minibus would be coupled with a short-term continuing resolution (CR), that would end the shut down and temporarily flat-fund the rest of the government. We will keep you posted.
Effects on Veterans’ Health: The connection between VA Health and heroism needs no elaboration! The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research coalition released a compelling statement this week about the impact of the government shutdown on VA research and health care delivery.
Everyday Impacts of Research: The Washington Post recently highlighted lifesaving medicines that many Americans rely on. The research & development of these medications and treatments was supported by NIH and private sector investment. From an important cancer immunotherapy to a treatment for epilepsy to a medication to treat and prevent HIV, the development of these treatments demonstrates the incredible value of American R&D. Read the article here. (Subscription required.)
Help get the word out about the on-the-ground impact of taxpayer-funded research. We have a handy guide on writing and submitting letters to the editor in your local news outlets. Access this resource here.
Nobel Science Laureates Announced: On behalf of the Research!America community, congratulations to the newest Nobel Prize science laureates!
Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi will be awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for identifying regulatory T cells, which prevent immune cells from attacking our own body – an important discovery related to autoimmune diseases. John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis will receive the Nobel Prize in Physics for their contributions to the theory of quantum physics by creating an electrical circuit that demonstrated tunnelling — a particle bypassing a barrier it shouldn’t have enough energy to pass through — on a macroscopic level.
In addition, Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi will be awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for creating metal-organic frameworks. These constructions can help harvest water from desert air or even capture carbon dioxide, among other possibilities.
NIH and NSF funding is part of the Nobel story: For example, even before this year’s announcements, a total of 174 Nobel Laureates cited NIH among their funders. Dr. Brunkow, one of this year’s science laureates, said this week: “the majority of the work that we do here [at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle] is supported by federal funding. So, obviously, any loss in that hurts. I can’t emphasize enough how important it has been and vital to progress that can be made in medicine and basic science.”
Congratulations again to all these science heroes!
Speaking of Science Heroes… Visit the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 27for a film on Dr. Phil Sharp’s rise from a rural farm boy with dyslexia to a Nobel Laureate whose discovery of RNA splicing launched a biotech revolution. We’re proud that Dr. Sharp received Research!America’s award for Sustained National Leadership in 2017. On Oct. 27 there will be a reception, a screening of “Cracking the Code,” and a discussion with the director and other experts. Learn more here. For those who are not based in the D.C. area, you can attend another screening in a different location or watch the film on PBS Independent Lens.
Save the Dates:
- Our next alliance member-only meeting will take place over Zoom on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at noon ET. If you are with an alliance member organization, more details are coming to your inbox soon! Learn more about alliance membership here.
- Research!America will host a Health Services Research Capitol Hill Briefing on Wednesday,Nov. 17, at 8:30 a.m. ET. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.
What Are Your Thoughts? We are in the midst of a challenging national conversation about the future of research and development in America, and you have a critical role to play in advocacy. We know that sometimes advocacy can be intimidating. We want to hear from you: What hurdles do you face when engaging in advocacy? Please participate in this brief, anonymous poll. We will use your insights to inform our advocacy tools and trainings going forward.
Support Our Advocacy Work: The turbulent federal funding and policy climate places research — and the critical progress it delivers — at unprecedented risk. With your support, Research!America is working every day to ensure our nation’s discovery, development, and delivery system not only survives, but thrives; the breakthroughs that save lives depend on it. Your support is crucial to ensuring that medical and public health progress remain a national priority. Donate now.