Action Is Needed Now More Than Ever
Russ’s Corner
Last week, I came home from a scientific conference in Japan, where I joined a panel discussion on personalized medicine. It is remarkable to me what different countries are doing to realize the promise of personalized medicine for their people, particularly in building (or leveraging existing) systems of electronic health records or national genomic databases.
What was even more striking, though, is what I heard in two different meeting rooms.
In the opening plenary, there was talk of Japan’s latest commitment to medical and scientific research and development. Various initiatives with acronyms were mentioned. But what caught my ear was a commitment from the government to double Japan’s public-sector investment in R&D over the next five years and to invest more in 25 research universities.
Later, in a different room that was standing room only, senior representatives of the U.S. government unveiled the Kyoto Vision for a Golden Age of Science, a one-page document led by the U.S. and signed by 17 nations. It talked of “SI” instead of “AI.” It harkened back to the July report called “Science: A New Golden Age,” a document that is full of aspiration. But all of us who had hoped for some new concrete commitment, something beyond new acronyms and aspirations, were disappointed.
Japan is doubling its public investment. China’s overall investment in R&D has surpassed ours. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget response has been to eviscerate NSF and AHRQ, float massive cuts to NIH, and to propose a regulation that would allow termination of clinical trials at any time and without appeal. So far, we have been saved from the worst of these proposals by Congress.
The U.S. cannot take its leadership in medical and scientific research for granted. Global competition is intensifying, and our ability to drive the next generation of medical breakthroughs will depend on a strong research ecosystem, a talented workforce, and sustained, predictable investment. The stakes are not only our nation’s competitiveness, but also the health and well-being of generations to come.
Russ
Keep up the Pressure to Stop OMB’s Proposed Rule: The far-reaching regulation proposed by OMB is on ice until Dec. 11, but it is not gone. You (and our partners in other communities that would be affected) are what stand in the way of it becoming final on Dec. 12.
We know that each of us is busy, and it’s hard to find time and energy to keep up the pressure. That’s why we’ve put together a new, quick way for folks to make a difference. All you need to do: when you see a news article, editorial, or op-ed that is connected to health, such as a research breakthrough or new data, follow these three easy (we promise) steps. They’ll make it easy for you to produce a compelling letter to the editor that highlights why research is important and why the proposed rule is bad for patients, bad for our communities, and bad for the nation.
Another opportunity for engagement is the national Day of Action on Nov. 10, organized by the National Council of Nonprofits, when advocates across the country will contact their members of Congress and post on social media. Together, we can stop this rule.
RFI Roundup:
- Opportunities to Reduce Administrative Burden in NIH Extramural Research: NIH is seeking specific, actionable recommendations to improve the efficiency of the NIH grants process. Responses are due Dec. 8.
- Rare Disease Framework: FDA has launched a Rare Disease Framework Initiative to make rare disease drug reviews more consistent and predictable. A public meeting is scheduled for Oct. 28, and comments are due Dec. 11.
Civic Science Funding Opportunities: Research!America is now accepting applications for our 2026-2027 Civic Engagement Microgrants. These microgrants provide funding to groups led by STEMM post-docs, as well as graduate and professional students, for projects related to public engagement. We’re also accepting applications for our Public Engagement Content Awards, which focus on the creation of open-access curricula to help scientists build science communication skills. Applications for both funding opportunities are due Nov. 20. Learn more and apply here.
Alliance Member-only Meetings: If you are affiliated with a Research!America alliance member organization, you’re invited to:
- A Zoom fireside chat on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET with Gary Disbrow, Ph.D., Deputy Assistant Secretary and Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). We’ve asked him to cover BARDA’s current priorities as it works to strengthen our nation’s preparedness for public health and medical emergencies.
- Join us on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. ET for a special post-election fireside chat with renowned political commentator and journalist Steve Clemons. Just two days after the midterm elections, we’ll tap into Steve’s insights to make sense of the results, assess the remaining uncertainties, and explore what the elections signal for the funding and policy priorities that will shape the future of scientific and medical progress.
Watch your email or contact Jacqueline Lagoy for the Zoom registration links.
Support Our Advocacy Work: Your support is critical to our advocacy efforts. Staying alert to the challenges to medical research investment takes real stamina, and none of us knows what challenges lie ahead. But what you do matters, and it gets results. That’s what your support makes possible: not only answering threats as they come but cultivating a network of advocates who are prepared to act. With the pivotal midterm elections ahead, when every conversation with a candidate or district office can influence how the next Congress approaches research funding, we can’t let that network go quiet. Donate now.