Policy Decisions, Research Impacts
In last week’s letter, I discussed an executive order reinforcing the administration’s intention to create new layers of political review to the peer-review process of awarding and paying out NIH and other federal research grants. Since then, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya has released a statement documenting future criteria that could limit health and medical research. It’s a short but important read, providing additional insight into the considerations that will determine funding decisions going forward.
Nutrition: Dr. Bhattacharya’s statement reaffirms that childhood nutrition would be an area of focus for NIH, and this topic is at the center of an upcoming virtual conversation and Q&A at the National Academy of Medicine. Register here to be part of this important conversation.
This event is the first of a series of virtual monthly discussions convened by the National Academy of Medicine to assist the public in navigating complex health topics in the news. The goal of these discussions is to promote public trust by focusing on building scientific consensus, communicating uncertainty, and understanding the influence of values in interpreting and applying science and evidence.
More on Food and Nutrition: In our 2024 survey assessing Americans’ views on food and nutrition, we heard a lot of concern about the cost of healthy food options. For example, 77% of Americans said they would like to eat a healthier diet; however, 60% of respondents find the cost of healthy food to be a barrier. In addition, 72% of Americans said prices are the top food issue facing the nation.
Impoundment: Last week, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that only the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), not private organizations or grantees, has the legal authority to sue when the executive branch withholds congressionally approved funding, known as impoundment. The ruling that only GAO has standing to challenge impoundments could affect agencies like the NIH, AHRQ, and CDC. This means universities, patient advocacy groups, and researchers would lose their ability to legally contest frozen or rescinded funding, even after Congress has approved it.
The case now returns to the district court for further proceedings. We’ll keep you updated.
A Development on Apportionments: Thanks to a recent court ruling that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) must make its spending decisions public, the apportionments database is back online. (Apportionments are legally binding plans to guide agency spending of federal money according to congressional intent.) OMB has been required by law since 2022 to post apportionments on a public website, but it had taken that website down in March. The court ruling makes it possible to see OMB’s decisions on whether to spend funding appropriated by Congress and indicated, in some cases, that it has imposed limitations on disbursing appropriated funds, which is not allowed under the Impoundment Control Act. The administration may challenge the constitutionality of that Act. Utilize this tracker from OpenOMB, and explore our Timeline of Administration Actions for more context and developments.
Reaching the Hill: We’re more than halfway through our August Advocacy Challenge! Don’t forget to track your progress on your scorecard. Top point earners will win prizes!
This week’s featured action: Call your members of Congress and let them know why medical research matters. Use our advocacy toolkit for sample scripts and use our handy guide to find your members and their contact information. Every call earns points and makes an impact.
Bonus video challenge: Record a short clip about why research is important to you. Review this guide and upload your short video through our Google form to help us spotlight why research matters.
If you do not have a Google account, you can follow the instructions here to email us your video. Your video could be featured on Research!America’s social media, in advocacy materials, or as part of a community compilation.
Want to boost your reach? Post your video on social media, tag Research!America, and use #RAAugChallenge. You’ll inspire others to join in, earn even more points, and secure your top spot in the challenge!
Register for the National Health Research Forum: Please join us! On Sept. 3, we will host two early career researcher-specific virtual sessions to kick off our 2025 National Health Research Forum: The Pulse of Progress. These discussions are designed to equip the next generation of health research leaders with career-building skills.
Join us for virtual sessions on Sept. 3 and 10, as well as an in-person session on Sept. 17. You can register for one or all of the sessions here!
Interested in partnering with us for this event? Check out sponsorship opportunities here or contact Kristen Furlong.
Honoring a Legacy of Service and Advocacy: Late last week, our nation lost an extraordinary leader, and the Research!America community lost a devoted advocate and friend, former Delaware Governor and Congressman Mike Castle. A lifelong public servant and passionate champion for medical research and public health, Mike joined Research!America’s Board in 2011, serving as Vice Chair and then Chair from 2017 to 2021. We were proud to honor him with the 2024 John Edward Porter Legacy Award in recognition of his unwavering commitment to sustaining our nation’s leadership in medical and health research. His legacy is considerable. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.