ASPET - Public Affairs - Bulletins

December-January, 2007
ASPET Government and Public Affairs Report Appropriations Update

The White House and Congress continue their fight to finish a year-end omnibus spending bill that would fund the federal agencies, including NIH, for FY’08. Only one (of 12) appropriations bill (DoD) has been signed into law. The President continues to threaten to veto any omnibus spending bill that does not hold the line on spending and does not give him his requested funding for Iraq. A recent compromise omnibus proposal would have cost approximately $11 billion more than what Bush had originally requested. This proposal also included about $70 billion for Iraqi war funds with no mandate for troop withdrawal. But the President and many of his congressional supporters remained opposed to what they feel is excessive spending in the omnibus bill. At the moment, this crafted omnibus legislative proposal appears to have collapsed as Democrats are accusing Republicans of bargaining in bad faith. One new strategy by Democrats is to strip about $9.5 billion of congressional “pork” from the bill to get it closer to the Administration’s liking but provide no Iraq funding. However, that won’t satisfy the President and would not have much support from rank and file Democrats and Republicans who want to preserve spending in their home districts.

Several weeks ago, the President vetoed the Labor/HHS bill that funds the NIH. The attempt to override the veto failed too. The House and Senate had passed legislation that would have increased the NIH budget by $1.1 billion in FY’08. This projected increase would have reversed several years of flat funding for NIH. But now that potential for an increase in the NIH budget is in jeopardy. Should an omnibus pass in any form, it is likely that the projected NIH increase of $1.1 billion would likely be cut at least in half. The President and his supporters insist that they will not support excessive spending in any omnibus. Ironically, the bill was crafted to give the President his Iraq funding/no timetable mandate to help secure votes to allow passage of the omnibus. If the President fails to sign an omnibus (assuming Congress can agree on one), there would likely be another continuing resolution (current CR is scheduled to end Dec.14) funding programs at the FY’07 level. The possibility exists of a year-long CR which would be very bad news for the NIH and other federal programs and agencies. However, for many in the White House and Congress, a year-long CR would be a successful outcome since it essentially freezes spending. The situation is very fluid and will certainly change for better or worse in the coming days, possibly weeks.

FDA is also caught up in the developing omnibus strategy. House and Senate Agriculture appropriations subcommittee staffs have been meeting to negotiate a final package that both sides can agree upon. What we do know is that FDA’s funding level be no higher than the Senate’s proposed increase of $186 million, and could be lower than the House increase of $128 million.

ASPET Opposes Farm Bill Amendments
View the ASPET letter to Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) asking him to reject to House passed amendments to the Farm Bill that would amend the Animal Welfare Act and prohibit the use of live animals to demonstrate medical devices in sales related contexts and prohibit Class”B” dealer sales of non-purpose bred dogs and cats:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_pos_test.html

ASPET Response to NBME Proposed Changes to USMLE
The National Board of Medical Examiners is proposing that the current USMLE exam be replaced with a combined basic science and clinical examination to better integrate basic and clinical components of the examination. In a letter to the NBME, ASPET detailed its opposition to the proposed changes: http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_pos_test.html citing the need for students to demonstrate a fundamental understanding of principles of the basic biomedical sciences and the potential for dilution of emphasis placed on the scientific basis of medicine in medical education.

New Journal on Evolution
A print version of the new journal, Evolution: Education and Outreach, debuted at the National Association of Biology Teachers November conference. The journal will be free online at www.springerlink.com during all of 2008. The journal promotes understanding and teaching of evolutionary theory for a wide audience. Targeting students of all ages including undergraduates, teachers and scientists alike, the journal publishes articles to aid members of these communities in the teaching of evolutionary theory.

NIDA Summer Research Training Opportunities
Please see the below link to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) news release, announcing the kick off application period for summer research training opportunities at its Intramural Program (IRP) facility in Baltimore, MD. The internship program is part of NIDA's commitment to introducing the science of addiction to some of the best and brightest young scientists in America. View: http://www.nida.nih.gov/newsroom/07/NR11-15.html

NIGMS Anticipates New Round of Proposals for Summer Short Course in Integrative Pharmacology
NIGMS has recognized the importance of training that enables scientists to integrate information from the most basic molecular and cellular systems to the whole organism and to relate such studies to the human condition. The majority of current graduate students receive relatively little training in physiology and integrative pharmacology, and hands-on experience is particularly lacking in the appropriate selection and use of in vivo and intact organ models. Relatively few institutions have sufficient faculty expertise and infrastructure to provide this training. Yet, the need for scientists with training in this area continues to be high in industry, government, and academia, where further attrition of faculty is expected due to retirement trends. In 2004, NIGMS solicited proposals to address this training need, and four programs were funded beginning in summer 2005. It is anticipated that NIGMS will solicit a new round of proposals to continue the summer short courses from 2009 -2012. http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/IOSP.htm

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 Releases Breakthroughs in Bioscience Article on Asthma
FASEB released “Breathtaking Discoveries: How Basic Research Led to Treatments for Asthma,” the latest article in the Breakthroughs in Bioscience series. This article describes how fundamental understanding of the immune system, inflammation, and the underlying causes of asthma have resulted in successful treatments for this complex disease. The Breakthroughs in Bioscience series is a collection of illustrated articles, published by FASEB, that explain recent developments in basic biomedical research and how they are important to society.

FASEB Breakthroughs articles are available to all members of FASEB societies, for use in your own teaching and advocacy efforts. They are available in electronic or hardcopy form and cover a range of topics. To obtain a free copy of these publications, visit the Breakthroughs in Bioscience Web site: http://opa.faseb.org/pages/Publications/breakthroughs.htm or contact FASEB’s Office of Public Affairs at (301) 634-7650.

FASEB NEWS
For FASEB biweekly news from Capitol Hill: http://opa.faseb.org/

Funding Opportunities
The Pioneer Award application period is from December 16, 2007 to January 16, 2008. See http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-08-013.html for application instructions and http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/pioneer for more information.

New Methodologies for Natural Products Chemistry http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-08-004.html

NIH Appropriations
House-Senate conferees are supporting a FY’08 NIH funding level of $30 billion, a $1.1 billion increase above the FY’07 level. This is $100 million higher than what the SenateFy’08 high mark had been for the NIH. Adding above the recommended levels by either the House or Senate is a very rare feat and is recognition of the need to support NIH by the Senate and House leadership is significant. The Labor/HHS bill was caught in some procedural moves this week when an attempt to bundle the bill with the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill was defeated (Democrats hoped bundling the two bills would have made it more difficult for the president to veto). The failed maneuver made it necessary to send the bill back to the Senate where it was quickly approved. At the moment, the House is expected to vote shortly on the bill, clearing it for the President who has repeatedly stated he will veto the bill because it is $10 billion over his original FY’08 budget request.

FDA Appropriations
The Agriculture appropriations bill that funds FDA remains caught in the budget fight between Congress and the President. The White House continues to threaten to veto the $290 billion bill objecting to various tax increases and subsidy provisions. An expected omnibus bill will likely not increase the FDA numbers above the Senate proposed $186 million increase. The House proposed an increase of $128 million and the final number could be lower. There appears to be no movement on the bill at this moment. The continuing resolution expires November 16 and the next CR will likely extend funding (at FY’07 levels) through December 14 for.

ASPET Opposes Farm Bill Amendments
View the ASPET letter to Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) asking him to reject to House passed amendments to the Farm Bill that would amend the Animal Welfare Act and prohibit the use of live animals to demonstrate medical devices in sales related contexts and prohibit Class”B” dealer sales of non-purpose bred dogs and cats:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_pos_test.html

ASPET Response to NBME Proposed Changes to USMLE
The National Board of Medical Examiners is proposing that the current USMLE exam be replaced with a combined basic science and clinical examination to better integrate basic and clinical components of the examination. In a letter to the NBME, ASPET detailed its opposition to the proposed changes: http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_pos_test.html citing the need for students to demonstrate a fundamental understanding of principles of the basic biomedical sciences and the potential for dilution of emphasis placed on the scientific basis of medicine in medical education.

NIGMS Anticipates New Round of Proposals for Summer Short Course in Integrative Pharmacology
NIGMS has recognized the importance of training that enables scientists to integrate information from the most basic molecular and cellular systems to the whole organism and to relate such studies to the human condition. The majority of current graduate students receive relatively little training in physiology and integrative pharmacology, and hands-on experience is particularly lacking in the appropriate selection and use of in vivo and intact organ models. Relatively few institutions have sufficient faculty expertise and infrastructure to provide this training. Yet, the need for scientists with training in this area continues to be high in industry, government, and academia, where further attrition of faculty is expected due to retirement trends. In 2004, NIGMS solicited proposals to address this training need, and four programs were funded beginning in summer 2005. It is anticipated that NIGMS will solicit (fall 2007) a new round of proposals to continue the summer short courses from 2009 -2012. http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/IOSP.htm

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_sip.html

FASEB NEWS
For FASEB biweekly news from Capitol Hill: http://opa.faseb.org/

Funding Opportunities
Notice of Intent to Publish a Request for Applications for Extinction and Pharmacotherapies for Drug Addiction: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DA-08-005.html

2008 NIH Director's Pioneer Award Program NIH Roadmap Initiatives http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-08-013.html

NIH Appropriations
FY’08 begins October 1 with no resolution for many spending bills, including funding for the NIH. A continuing resolution (CR) has been enacted to keep federal programs running until November 16. The most likely scenario is that eventually all the appropriations bills not passed will be bundled together as part of a larger omnibus spending bill. As mentioned in past public affairs reports, the biomedical research community has advocated for a 6.7% increase in FY’08 (and ’09, ’10), restoring the buying power lost since the doubling was completed in 2003. That hoped for increase cannot be achieved.

Several Congressional champions of NIH (Reps. Markey (MA), Reichert (WA), Schakowsky (IL), Shays (CT), Courtney (CT) and Smith (NJ) are circulating a letter to Appropriations Chair David Obey (WI) and Ranking Member James Walsh (NY)that requests a minimum increase for the NIH of 2.8% to $29.9 billion as proposed by the Senate. (The House of Representatives approved a 1.9% increase for the NIH). ASPET members should contact their Members of Congress urging them to sign the letter. Find your Member of Congress at: http://www.house.gov/ .

Congressional offices seeking to co-sign the letter can be directed to Kate Reinhalter Bazinsky in Rep. Markey's office [katharine.bazinsky@mail.house.gov] or Jason Edgar in Rep. Reichert's office [Jason.edgar@mail.house.gov].

FDA Appropriations
The Senate appropriations number for FY’08 is $186 million (12%) above FY’07. This increase, if it holds, would be significant - almost as much as the FDA increases over the past 3 years combined. The House passed provides an increase of $128 million above FY’07. There will be no separate Senate floor vote on the Agriculture appropriations bill and the goal is to get the House to accept the higher Senate number in whatever conference comes before the likely omnibus appropriations bill. Without a floor debate in the Senate, advocates will lose out on the opportunity to have an open and visible public debate about the appropriate funding level for the FDA in FY08. There is little chance of any increase above the Senate numbers in the final omnibus. But it is possible that funding levels could fall to the House level – or lower. As part of the continuing resolution, FDA will be funded at current FY’07 levels until November 16. At that time, the omnibus bill must be completed or another CR will need to be implemented. ASPET is working with the FDA Alliance to help maintain the Senate numbers.

NIGMS Anticipates New Round of Proposals for Summer Short Course in Integrative Pharmacology
NIGMS has recognized the importance of training that enables scientists to integrate information from the most basic molecular and cellular systems to the whole organism and to relate such studies to the human condition. The majority of current graduate students receive relatively little training in physiology and integrative pharmacology, and hands-on experience is particularly lacking in the appropriate selection and use of in vivo and intact organ models. Relatively few institutions have sufficient faculty expertise and infrastructure to provide this training. Yet, the need for scientists with training in this area continues to be high in industry, government, and academia, where further attrition of faculty is expected due to retirement trends. In 2004, NIGMS solicited proposals to address this training need, and four programs were funded beginning in summer 2005. It is anticipated that NIGMS will solicit (fall 2007) a new round of proposals to continue the summer short courses from 2009 -2012. http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/IOSP.htm

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_sip.html

Comment on Draft NIGMS Strategic Plan
NIGMS invites comments on its draft strategic plan by Tuesday, October 16. The plan is at: http://www.nigms.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/FBBC4EE9-E981-487B-85D3-386936D05029/0/DraftNIGMSStrategicPlan.doc

NAS Seeks Experts to Form New Biodefense Committee
The National Academies of Sciences is forming a new standing committee on Biodefense. Funded by DoD, the committee’s goal is to advance basic and applied research leading to the development of broad spectrum countermeasures against advanced bioterror agents (beyond anthrax/smallpox). There is special interest in discussing obstacles to getting diagnostics, vaccines, or treatments into use. One of the first areas of focus for the committee will be the FDA's animal rule. Members of the standing committee will meet 3 or 4 times per year. Individuals on the committee will have an opportunity to directly impact DoD decision makers. Among the areas of expertise desired are pharmacology, diagnostics, drug development/ manufacturing of vaccines or therapeutics, and animal models/animal rule. Experts in these fields are encouraged to submit short biographies. Contact: Kerry Brenner at kbrenner@nas.edu.

FASEB NEWS
For FASEB biweekly news from Capitol Hill: http://opa.faseb.org/

Funding Opportunities

Notice of Intent to Publish a Request for Applications for Study of Extinction Learning and Pharmacotherapies for Drug Addiction: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DA-07-027.html

Notice of Intent to Publish a Program Announcement to Support Research by Newly Independent Chemistry Investigators for the Study of Drug Abuse and Addiction:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DA-07-028.html

Congress returns and must try to pass all twelve spending bills that fund the government in the new fiscal year that begins October 1. The House has passed all its appropriations bills but the Senate only completed Homeland Security bill. And these bills must eventually be negotiated in “conference” before the President can even sign them into law. In any event, the President has vowed to veto spending bills since they provide $22 billion more than he proposed in his own FY’08 budget. So the most likely outcome is that all these appropriations bills will be packaged together as part of a larger omnibus spending bill. This most likely scenario won’t happen until late fall or later. Unfortunately for NIH and other domestic spending programs, this would mean a series of continuing resolutions allowing the government to operate until final agreement is reached. The biomedical research community has advocated for a 6.7% increase in FY’08 (and ’09, ’10), restoring the buying power lost since the doubling was completed in 2003. But that increase can now be seen as a very, very remote outcome.

The House bill provides NIH with a 1.9% increase in FY’08 (taking into account an NIH transfer of $201 million to Global AIDS fund). The Senate bill provides a 2.8% increase (again taking into account the $201 million transfer). The biomedical research index rate for FY2008 is projected at 3.7%. So NIH is obviously facing a very difficult situation that can get worse. A series of continuing resolutions may fund programs at the current FY’07 level. ASPET and some other organizations have been working at the grassroots level with the support of key congressional leadership to develop congressional support to override a possible presidential veto of the spending bills. As negotiations begin this fall over the spending bills and NIH’s FY’08 budget, it is important for the entire NIH extramural community to respond when asked by ASPET and other organizations to help NIH reach sustainable funding levels.

FDA Appropriations
The $186 million increase in the Senate committee bill is about 12% over the FY 2007 appropriation. It is almost as much (in dollar terms) as the increases the FDA has received in the past 3 fiscal years combined. The $128 million increase in the House committee bill is more than 7% over the FY 2007 appropriation, but $58 million less than the Senate increase. Similar to NIH’s fate (above), these bills are caught up in a larger struggle between Congress and the White House on total appropriations levels. The Agriculture appropriations bill that funds FDA will most likely also be wrapped up in an omnibus bill.

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 that provide training of students in this field. For application information, visit: http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_sip.html

UK In Vivo Research Grant
The Centre for Integrative Mammalian Physiology and Pharmacology (CIMPP) at Imperial College in the UK has been established following the award of a grant from the Integrative Mammalian Biology Fund* to provide an academic focus for in vivo research across the College. Goals are to: 1) train young scientists to perform the physiological and pharmacological studies needed; 2) advance knowledge of the above through in vivo-based research, taking advantage of novel technologies where appropriate; 3) provide a forum for the discussion of in vivo research; 4) promote the highest standards of animal care and welfare; and 5) advance the public understanding of the importance of in vivo work in medical and veterinary research. The Centre is holding an inaugural symposium on September 27 in London. A copy of the program and registration form can be downloaded here.

New NIH Program to Fund Exceptionally Innovative Research
NIH announced a new program to fund exceptionally innovative research that, if successful, will have an unusually high impact. The program, called EUREKA (for Exceptional, Unconventional Research Enabling Knowledge Acceleration), targets investigators who are testing novel, unconventional hypotheses or are pursuing major methodological or technical challenges. The potential impact of the proposed research must be substantial in terms of both the size of the scientific community affected and the magnitude of its impact on the community. Highlights of the EUREKA program include direct costs of up to $800,000 over 4 years and a specialized R01 application focusing on significance and innovation. NIGMS anticipates making between 13-17 awards under this program in Fiscal Year 2008. NINDS, NIMH, NIDA, and NIAID plan to fund additional awards. The application receipt date for the EUREKA program is October 24, 2007. View: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-GM-08-002.html.

NIH Appropriations
At this stage in the legislative process, the House is proposing a 1.9% ($550 million) increase for NIH in FY2008. The Senate bill proposes a 2.8% ($800 million) increase. The House and Senate recommendations are less than the rate of inflation. The President continues to insist he will veto the Labor-HHS-Ed bill because both the House and Senate bills spend $10-12 billion more than his own FY 2008 budget proposal. The President’s budget proposal recommended a cut of $500 million for the NIH. Both the House and Senate numbers are significantly lower than the 6.7% increase the biomedical research community is advocating. The 6.7% increase recommended in FY 2008, 2009, and 2010 is intended to bring NIH’s purchasing power back to the 2003 level. It is extremely unlikely the final NIH figure would approach 6.7% for FY 2008. However, the veto threat is significant and while it is unlikely the President’s draconian budget numbers would prevail there is a chance a veto would leave no choice for Congress but for a year long continuing resolution that could effectively keep the NIH at the current FY 2007 level. The House Labor-HHS-Education funding bill still needs approval by the full Appropriations Committee (expected in mid July) and then by all House members. The House and Senate must reconcile their versions before it can be sent to the president. In the coming weeks and months, there will be opportunities to increase the below inflation adjusted increases proposed by both the House and Senate and ultimately to override the expected veto.

Why such disappointing NIH numbers from the House and Senate? Pell Grants and No Child Left Behind received hefty increases from the President and both programs are favored by Democrats. Thus, there was less money available to fund other programs, like NIH, within the Labor/HHS portfolio.

ASPET Comments to HHS PKg Report
HHS asked for public comment on a draft report, “Realizing the Promise of Pharmacogenomics: Opportunities and Challenges.” The lengthy draft report describes the opportunities and promise of this field while also identifying the challenges associated with bringing product development and integration into clinical and public health practice. The draft report highlighted 3 major areas: 1) research and development, 2) gatekeepers, i.e., those involved in facilitating the progression of pharmacogenomics, and 3) implementation of phamacogenomics to improve outcomes in clinical and public health practice. View ASPET’s response at:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_pos_test.html

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_sip.html

Molecular Interventions Makes an Impact
Publications authority Thompson Scientific has announced an impact factor of 5.6 for the ASPET publication Molecular Interventions. The impact factor rating confirms that Molecular Interventions is being cited by biomedical authors who study the interplay between drugs and living systems. The risky and costly initiative to launch a magazine-like publication to target traditional “hard-core” scientific researchers and young novices alike was undertaken by ASPET in 2000. The young publication’s first ranking—amid the top twenty percent of over 250 publications in the biochemistry/molecular biology category—is a good indication that researchers devoted to pharmacology and related biomedical disciplines regularly consult the articles published Molecular Interventions.

Pharmacology International
The June 2007 issue of "Pharmacology International" is now available at http://www.iuphar.org/pubs_newsletter.html

Animal Law Field Expanding
The National Law Journal, a publication widely read by lawyers throughout the U.S. published an article about the rapid expansion of the field of animal law:
http://www.law.com/jsp/law/LawArticleFriendly.jsp?id=1180947932649

FDA Issues Dietary Supplements Final Rule
FDA announced a final rule establishing regulations to require current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) for dietary supplements. The rule ensures that dietary supplements are produced in a quality manner, do not contain contaminants or impurities, and are accurately labeled. Under the final rule, manufacturers are required to evaluate the identity, purity, strength, and composition of their dietary supplements. If dietary supplements contain contaminants or do not contain the dietary ingredient they are represented to contain, FDA would consider those products to be adulterated or misbranded. As a companion document, FDA also is issuing an interim final rule that outlines a petition process for manufacturers to request an exemption to the cGMP requirement for 100 percent identity testing of specific dietary ingredients used in the processing of dietary supplements. The final cGMP and the interim final rule are effective August 24, 2007. Backgrounder and fact sheet at: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dscgmps7.html http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dscgmps6.html

NIGMS Protein Structure Initiative Assessment--Request for Input
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) is engaged in an assessment of its Protein Structure Initiative, a large, collaborative effort with the overall goal of making it easy to obtain a protein's structure from its DNA sequence. More information on the assessment is at http://www.nigms.nih.gov/About/Council/PSIAssessment/ . To provide input for the assessment process, send an e-mail message to PSI.RFI@nigms.nih.gov. You will receive a message in response listing questions that you may respond to. You are free to comment on some or all of these questions as well as on any other PSI-related topic of your choosing. NIGMS is accepting comments until July 20, 2007. Questions about the PSI assessment should be directed to Warren Jones at jonesw@nigms.nih.gov or 301-594-3827.

FDA User Fees and Drug Safety Bills
The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved several bills that renew FDA user fees and improve drug safety regulations. PDUFA and MDUFA were reauthorized to allow FDA to collect fees from drug companies and device manufacturers for product review, approval and subsequent safety monitoring. The bill includes an appropriations trigger that reduces drug company user fees by a corresponding increase in appropriations. Also reauthorized are the Pediatric Research Equity Act and the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act allowing FDA to require pediatric testing of new drugs. Among other measures passed by the Committee, a bill limiting financial conflicts of interest of FDA advisory panel members.

Hispanic Professionals
The Nakamoto Group/FDA-Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Hispanic Recruitment Initiative is a Federal Government effort to recruit minorities, specifically Hispanic professionals into biomedical research, pharmacology and drug review. For additional information contact Boris Popovic-Fernandez at (Tel) (240) 672-3734 or send an e-mail to bpopovic@nakamotogroup.com.

FASEB NEWS

For FASEB biweekly news from Capitol Hill: http://www.faseb.org/opa/washington/

Funding Opportunities

Psychopharmacology of Widely Available Psychoactive Natural Products http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-374.html

Psychopharmacology Of Widely Available Psychoactive Natural Products http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-375.html

NIGMS National Centers for Systems Biology http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-GM-08-004.html

June, 2007
ASPET Government and Public Affairs Report

NIH Appropriations
House and Senate Conferees have agreed on a proposal to add $21 billion for non-defense domestic discretionary programs in the FY’08 Budget Resolution. This potentially allows for significant increases in the NIH and other federal science agency budgets. President Bush has threatened to veto any domestic appropriations bill that exceeds his spending requests, which is now $21 billion higher due to the Conferees action. It is not clear if the veto could be sustained as Democrats and many Republicans are interested in funding worthwhile programs, notably NIH. Thanks to many ASPET members and thousands of others who responded to an alert to contact their Representatives and Senators asking they support the additional $21 billion for discretionary spending. The biomedical research community now hopes that a significant portion of that $21 billion will be allocated to the Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the NIH. Allocation of these funds to the appropriations subcommittees will be made in the coming days.

EB Capitol Hill Day
Many ASPET members joined other participating society members attending the 2008 Experimental Biology meeting in Washington to visit with their congressional delegation and discuss the benefits of biomedical research and why NIH needs their support. Almost 100 congressional visits were made. ASPET appreciates the time its members made during a hectic schedule of scientific programming.

2007 Summer Short Courses in Integrative and Organ Systems Science (IOSS)
The past two summers, NIGMS has funded four short courses. These summer short courses will be offered again in 2007and 2008 at four institutions. The purpose of each short course is to introduce graduate students and PhDs 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 PhDs. With these skills are in great demand in both academic and industrial settings. Interested individuals can find more information on the NIGMS summer short courses visit:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_NIGMS_shortcourse_awards.html

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_sip.html

Senate Passes FDA User Fee Bill
After a week of debate and numerous amendments, the Senate May 9 overwhelmingly passed legislation to renew the user fees that drug company’s pay to the FDA to review their products. The bill reauthorizes the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) and the Medical Device User Fee Modernization Act (MDUFMA), providing about $450 million in drug and device user fee revenue to FDA in FY 2008. The drug safety portion of the bill expands the ClinicalTrials.gov data bank at the National Library of Medicine to include all phase II and later drug trials and medical device trials. In addition, results from clinical trials will be included in the data base after the drug or device has been approved for marketing.

FASEB NEWS
For FASEB biweekly news from Capitol Hill: http://www.faseb.org/opa/washington/

FASEB “Breakthroughs” Publication on Antidepressants
FASEB has published “Science, Serotonin, and Sadness: The Biology of Antidepressants,” the latest article in the Breakthroughs in Bioscience series. This article describes how fundamental understanding of brain chemistry and the underlying causes of depression have resulted in successful treatments for this crippling disease, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. The Breakthroughs in Bioscience series is a collection of illustrated articles, published by FASEB, that explain recent developments in basic biomedical research and how they are important to society. To obtain a free copy of these publications, visit the Breakthroughs in Bioscience Web site http://opa.faseb.org/pages/Publications/breakthroughs.htm or contact FASEB’s Office of Public Affairs at (301) 634-7650.

Funding Opportunities

Pharmacological Approaches to Combating Antimicrobial Resistance http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-07-025.html

May, 2007
ASPET Government and Public Affairs Report

NIH Appropriations
Budget Committee members will meet to determine final discretionary spending levels that appropriations committee members will have available to allocate to the NIH and other discretionary programs. Following the overall Budget Committee allocation, House and Senate Appropriation Committee Chairs Obey (D-WI) and Byrd (D-WV) will make more specific allocations among the twelve appropriations subcommittees. ASPET and the entire biomedical research community have advocated for a 6.7% increase for NIH in FY 2008. This figure cannot be achieved without a substantial increase to the Labor/HHS Subcommittee’s allocation that funds the NIH. Shortly you will be hearing about the need to contact your Congressional Representatives asking they agree to a $14 billion boost in the Labor/HHS allocation. It is critically important that the biomedical research community respond to the various alerts that will be circulating in the days ahead. Competing priorities make it necessary to increase the Labor/HHS allocation. With more money available, appropriators will be able to adequately fund many programs under the subcommittee’s jurisdiction and to possibly meet our request of a 6.7% increase in FY 2008. A smaller allocation would mean there is less money available for NIH and other programs and NIH resulting in significantly diminished FY 2008 budget increases.

Pharmacogenomics Presentation
NIGMS Director Jeremy M. Berg, Ph.D., spoke before the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology on April 24, 2007. Slides from the talk, titled "Pharmacogenomics--A Powerful and Challenging Approach to Personalized Medicine," are at http://www.ostp.gov/PCAST/agendas/Apr-07/Berg_PCAST_Apr07.pdf.

2007 Summer Short Courses in Integrative and Organ Systems Science (IOSS)
The past two summers, NIGMS has funded four short courses. These summer short courses will be offered again in 2007and 2008 at four institutions. The purpose of each short course is to introduce graduate students and PhDs 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 PhDs. With these skills are in great demand in both academic and industrial settings. Interested individuals can find more information on the NIGMS summer short courses visit:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_NIGMS_shortcourse_awards.html

ASPET-IOSS Fund
ASPET has created the ASPET-IOSS (Integrated Organ System Sciences) Fund to provide support for graduate students and post-doctoral researchers seeking training in integrative, whole organ systems sciences. Support for the ASPET-IOSS Fund is generously provided by Abbott Laboratories, Merck Research Laboratories, Pfizer, and Wyeth Research. The ASPET-IOSS Fund will help augment developing programs (see above 2007 Summer Short Courses) that provide training for students in this area. The ASPET-IOSS Fund hopes to contribute to developing infrastructure to sustain and expand training in this critical area of research. Awards available to 1) support graduate students seeking additional training in IOSS, and 2) provide partial support for independent meetings and workshops dedicated to advancing training and research in this discipline. More details will be forthcoming.

NIH RAID (Rapid Access to Intervention Development) Pilot
This new trans-NIH program is designed to assist academic drug development. The program will make available on a competitive basis, certain critical resources needed for the development of new small molecule therapeutic agents. It is not a grant program and successful projects will gain access to the government’s contract resources in drug development as well as assistance of the NIH inn establishing and implementing a product development plan. Details at:http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/raid/index.aspx.

USP Sponsors Programs at Pharmaceutical World Congress 2007
USP has joined several other organizations as a sponsor of the 3rd Pharmaceutical Sciences World Congress (PSWC) 2007. This important scientific forum is designed for those involved in the scientific and professional areas associated with the research and development of pharmaceuticals and biologics, health care, public policy and drug regulatory standards. The Congress is organized and hosted by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and will be held April 22-25, 2007 in Amsterdam. The PSWC 2007 theme is Optimizing Drug Therapy: An Imperative for World Health, and will cover a broad spectrum of topics from basic to applied and clinical sciences. The specific USP programs are a symposium on Counterfeiting of Medicines: Detection and Prevention and a roundtable discussion on when is a human bioequivalence study not needed?

HHS Seeks Pharmacogenomics Comments
The Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society is requesting public comment on a draft report, "Realizing the Promise of Pharmacogenomics: Opportunities and Challenges." assesses the potential for genomics to improve productivity of the drug development pipeline, increase the safety and effectiveness of drugs by reducing adverse reactions, and allow for more efficient use of drugs in clinical and public health practice. The draft report also outlines and makes recommendations on issues associated with product development in pharmacogenomics and integration into clinical practice and public health. Public comments should be submitted to the HHS Advisory Committee by June 1.

FASEB NEWS
For FASEB biweekly news from Capitol Hill: http://www.faseb.org/opa/washington/

Funding Opportunities
Pharmacological Approaches to Combating Antimicrobial Resistance http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-07-025.html

April, 2007
ASPET Government and Public Affairs Report

NIH Appropriations
On March 27, Kenneth P. Minneman (Emory University), president-elect of ASPET presented ASPET’s testimony in support of a 6.7% increase for the FY2008 NIH budget. View written testimony at: http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_pos_test.html. Dr. Minneman was one of a dozen public witnesses selected to appear before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services, Education & Related Agencies.

After a difficult few years for the Agency, it is possible that momentum is swinging in the NIH’s favor. NIH received an increase of $620 million in FY’07 and this outcome was a positive conclusion to a very difficult budget year, made possible by biomedical scientists making their case for increased funding to a more receptive Congress. For FY’08, the Senate budget resolution provided an additional $2.2 billion for NIH and related health service programs. While not binding, the budget resolution essentially raises the pool of available funds for all programs. It is then up to the Appropriations Committees to make the final spending decisions. Additionally, over 130 House Members have gone on record as supporting a 6.7% increase.

2007 Summer Short Courses in Integrative and Organ Systems Science (IOSS)
The past two summers, NIGMS has funded four short courses. These summer short courses will be offered again in 2007and 2008 at four institutions. The purpose of each short course is to introduce graduate students and PhDs 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 PhDs. With these skills are in great demand in both academic and industrial settings. Interested individuals can find more information on the NIGMS summer short courses visit:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_NIGMS_shortcourse_awards.html

ASPET-IOSS Fund
ASPET has created the ASPET-IOSS (Integrated Organ System Sciences) Fund to provide support for graduate students and post-doctoral researchers seeking training in integrative, whole organ systems sciences. Support for the ASPET-IOSS Fund is generously provided by Abbott Laboratories, Merck Research Laboratories, Pfizer, and Wyeth Research. The ASPET-IOSS Fund will help augment developing programs (see above 2007 Summer Short Courses) that provide training for students in this area. The ASPET-IOSS Fund hopes to contribute to developing infrastructure to sustain and expand training in this critical area of research. Awards available to 1) support graduates of the NIGMS supported summer short courses, and 2) provide partial support for independent meetings and workshops dedicated to advancing training and research in this discipline. More details will be forthcoming. For additional information, contact Jim Bernstein at jbernstein@aspet.org; tel: 301.634.7062.

NIGMS online resource: “Pharm.D. Gateway to NIH”
The Pharm.D Gateway to NIH is a new online resource that provides information about NIH funding opportunities for Pharm.D.students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty. This online resource guide was created by NIH because of significant interest in translational/clinical research questions related to drug development and therapeutics. Details at:
www.nigms.nih.gov/training/pharmd_gateway.htm

NIH Director’s New Innovator Award
The NIH Director’s New Innovator Award will support research by new investigators who propose highly innovative projects with the potential for exceptionally great impact on biomedical or behavioral science. NIH expects to make at least 14 awards in September 2007. Each grant will be for 5 years and up to a total of $1.5 million in direct costs plus applicable facilities and administrative costs. The Awards are open to new investigators who have not yet obtained an R01 or similar grant, hold an independent research position at an institution in the US, received a doctoral degree or completed medical internship and residency in 1997 or later, and propose research in any scientific area relevant to the NIH mission

Instructions at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-07-009.html

More information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/innovator_award/

E-mail questions to newinnovator@nih.gov or call 301-594-4469

Acknowledgement of NIH Research Support
Investigators can help raise public awareness of the important role NIH plays in providing funding for biomedical research for NIH grant recipients. Investigators are in a position to raise public awareness of the NIH role in your project while satisfying an award requirement and a congressional directive that grantees "acknowledge NIH's funding contribution when they publicize their research findings." More details at:
http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/partners/0107Nexus.htm#NIHSupport

Preview of EB 2007 Public Affairs Activities, Washington DC
ASPET members attending the Experimental Biology 2007 meeting in Washington, DC this spring will have the opportunity to participate in two public affairs activities. NIH Director Elias Zerhouni and former House Appropriations Subcommittee Chair John Porter will speak about the “NIH at the Crossroads: How Diminished Funds Will Impact Biomedical Research and What Scientists Can Do About It.” The talk is open to all EB registrants and will be held on Monday, April 30 from 12:45 – 1:45 pm in the Washington Convention Center. Dr. Zerhouni will provide his perspective and details on the current state of the NIH enterprise. Mr. Porter will provide a legislative overview of the FY 2008 outlook for the NIH. He will discuss how scientists have an obligation as citizens to become politically active and aware and make suggestions for what needs to be done to make an impact.

FASEB NEWS
For FASEB biweekly news from Capitol Hill: http://www.faseb.org/opa/washington/

Funding Opportunities
Development of Animal Models and Related Biological Materials For Research http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-336.html

Development of Assays for High-Throughput Drug Screening http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-320.html

March 2007
ASPET Government and Public Affairs Report

NIH Appropriations
President Bush’s FY 2008 budget effectively cuts the NIH budget $511 million or 1.7% below the funding level proposed by Congress’ FY 2007 Joint Funding Resolution. The President’s own budget summary portrayed the FY’08 NIH figures as a $232 million increase over the President’s own FY’07 budget estimates. This funding discrepancy is because the President’s FY2008 budget was released prior to the final adoption of the FY 2007 Joint Funding Resolution.

The FY’07 Joint Funding Resolution provided NIH with an increase of $620 million. This increase was higher than the President’s and the House’s proposed flat funding and the Senate’s $200 proposed increase. This outcome was a result of the changed leadership in Congress and scientists contacting their Members of Congress. ASPET and the rest of the biomedical research community will be advocating to Congress that the NIH receive an increase of 6.7% for FY 2008.

NIGMS Strategic Plan Open for Public Comment
NIGMS has issued a Request for Information to assist with their strategic planning process. This will be time for the Pharmacology community to weigh-in on the needs and direction of the Institute. ASPET will respond organizationally but public comments from stakeholders and professional societies are encouraged via the NIGMS web site at http://www.nigms.nih.gov/About/StrategicPlan/Input.htm by March 20, 2007. It is not necessary to be an NIGMS grant recipient to submit comments.

2007 Summer Short Courses in Integrative and Organ Systems Science (IOSS)
The past two summers, NIGMS has funded four short courses. These summer short courses will be offered again in 2007and 2008 at four institutions. The purpose of each short course is to introduce graduate students and PhDs 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 PhDs. With these skills are in great demand in both academic and industrial settings. Interested individuals can find more information on the NIGMS summer short courses visit: http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_NIGMS_shortcourse_awards.html

Acknowledgement of NIH Research Support
Investigators can help raise public awareness of the important role NIH plays in providing funding for biomedical research for NIH grant recipients. Investigators are in a position to raise public awareness of the NIH role in your project while satisfying an award requirement and a congressional directive that grantees "acknowledge NIH's funding contribution when they publicize their research findings." More details at: http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/partners/0107Nexus.htm#NIHSupport

Preview of EB 2007 Public Affairs Activities, Washington DC
ASPET members attending the Experimental Biology 2007 meeting in Washington, DC this spring will have the opportunity to participate in two public affairs activities.

NIH Director Elias Zerhouni and former House Appropriations Subcommittee Chair John Porter will speak about the “NIH at the Crossroads: How Diminished Funds Will Impact Biomedical Research and What Scientists Can Do About It.” The talk is open to all EB registrants and will be held on Monday, April 30 from 12:45 – 1:45 pm in the Washington Convention Center. Dr. Zerhouni will provide his perspective and details on the current state of the NIH enterprise. Mr. Porter will provide a legislative overview of the FY 2008 outlook for the NIH. He will discuss how scientists have an obligation as citizens to become politically active and aware and make suggestions for what needs to be done to make an impact.

Also scientists can participate in EB Capitol Hill Days on April 30, May 1 and May 2. With scientists facing one of the most alarming periods to confront the biomedical research enterprise in recent years, ASPET and the other participating EB societies are encouraging their members to take advantage of a Washington meeting to promote biomedical research. Join us by making Capitol Hill visits during EB in support of increased funding for the NIH, NSF and other federal agencies. The convergence of over 10,000 of your scientific colleagues in the Nation’s Capitol provides a unique opportunity for constituent scientists to educate Members of Congress about the need to provide robust funding for the NIH and other agencies. Contact Jim Bernstein at jbernstein@aspet.org if interested.

Nonprofit Publishers Oppose Government Mandates for Scientific Publishing
The DC Principles for Free Access to Science Coalition (http://www.dcprinciples.org/) represents more than 75 of the nation’s leading nonprofit medical and scientific societies and publishers. DC Principles opposes any legislation that would abruptly end a publishing system that has nurtured independent scientific inquiry for generations. View the DC Principles press release at<http://www.dcprinciples.org/press/2.htm>.

FASEB NEWS
For FASEB biweekly news from Capitol Hill: http://opa.faseb.org/pages/Washingtonupdate

Funding Opportunities
Obstetrical Pharmacology Research Network - Data Coordination and Analyses http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HD-07-019.html

Notice of Intent to Publish a Request for Applications for the NIH Director’s New Innovator Awards http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-07-047.html

Developmental Psychopharmacology http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-222.html

Neuroscience Research on Drug Abuse (R01) (R21) (R03)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-226.html
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-227.html
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-228.html

February 2007
ASPET Government and Public Affairs Report

NIH Appropriations

For FY’07, NIH will receive a $620 million (2%) increase above the FY’06 level. NIH estimates that the increase will allow NIH to award an additional 500 research grants. This recent development was welcomed news since the outcome for NIH was expected to be flat funding. The 2% increase still lags behind the inflation rate but any increase hopefully provides momentum for more robust increases in the future. The bill, which will receive an expected pro-forma vote of approval shortly also provides $91 million for grants to first time investigators and includes $69 million for the National Children’s Study.

NIH Reauthorization

The President signed the NIH reauthorization bill authorizing increases for the NIH at roughly 7% in FY’07, 8% in FY’08 and “such sums as may be necessary” for fiscal year 2009. Authorization is not the same as appropriating funds that provide the real funds, but these figures do provide a hopeful benchmark for future increases to the NIH budget. The bill also creates an agency wide reporting system cataloguing all research activities in a standardized format; establishes a “Common Fund” to provide a permanent funding mechanism for trans-NIH research projects. Essentially a reserve account, the Common Fund is available to independent researchers. The bill also establishes a more formal strategic planning process for the NIH research portfolio and establishes a public process for a scientific management review board to evaluate the structure of NIH at least once every seven years.

FDA Advocacy

ASPET is a partner in the FDA Coalition, a group of almost 100 organizations supporting increased funding for the FDA. View the website at www.StrengthenFDA.org. The FDA Alliance Advocacy booklet, first released at the Senate HELP Committee staff briefing this past Friday, is based on the messages developed by the Alliance’s communications and lobbying committees. The booklet is designed to serve as a resource for congressional hill staff and others. The FDA Alliance Advocacy booklet should be available on the web site shortly.

2007 Summer Short Courses in Integrative and Organ Systems Science (IOSS)

The past two summers, NIGMS has funded four short courses. These summer short courses will be offered again in 2007and 2008 at four institutions. The purpose of each short course is to introduce graduate students and PhDs 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 PhDs. With these skills are in great demand in both academic and industrial settings. Interested individuals can find more information on the NIGMS summer short courses visit:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_NIGMS_shortcourse_awards.html

Preview of EB 2007 Public Affairs Activities, Washington DC

ASPET members attending the Experimental Biology 2007 meeting in Washington, DC this spring will have the opportunity to participate in two public affairs activities.

NIH Director Elias Zerhouni and former House Appropriations Subcommittee Chair John Porter will speak about the “NIH at the Crossroads: How Diminished Funds Will Impact Biomedical Research and What Scientists Can Do About It.” The talk is open to all EB registrants and will be held on Monday, April 30 from 12:45 – 1:45 pm in the Washington Convention Center. Dr. Zerhouni will provide his perspective and details on the current state of the NIH enterprise. Mr. Porter will provide a legislative overview of the FY 2008 outlook for the NIH. He will discuss how scientists have an obligation as citizens to become politically active and aware and make suggestions for what needs to be done to make an impact.

Also in the planning stages is EB Capitol Hill Days on April 30, May 1 and May 2. With scientists facing one of the most alarming periods to confront the biomedical research enterprise in recent years, ASPET and the other participating EB societies are encouraging their members to take advantage of a Washington meeting to promote biomedical research. Join us by making Capitol Hill visits during EB in support of increased funding for the NIH, NSF and other federal agencies.

The convergence of over 10,000 of your scientific colleagues in the Nation’s Capitol provides a unique opportunity for constituent scientists to educate Members of Congress about the need to provide robust funding for the NIH and other agencies. Contact Jim Bernstein at jbernstein@aspet.org if interested.

FASEB NEWS

FASEB has compiled a new website aimed at providing tools to scientists who wish to advocate for the teaching of evolution in science classes. “Take a Stand for Science: Support Evolution Education,” supports these efforts by facilitating the advocacy efforts of evolution proponents. To view the FASEB evolution resources website, please visit: www.evolution.faseb.org

For FASEB biweekly news from Capitol Hill: http://www.faseb.org/opa/washington/

NRC Workshop on Minorities in Research Careers

The National Research Council is convening a workshop, Understanding Interventions that Encourage Minorities to Pursue Research Careers: Major Questions and Appropriate Methods, on May 3-4, 2007 at the National Academies in Washington, D.C.

The workshop will examine what we know about programs designed to increase the inclusion, preparation, retention, and success of underrepresented minorities in research careers in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. Experts from a range of disciplines will share perspectives as well as evidence on how to design successful programs, how to measure success, and how to expand the community of scholars committed to understanding and influencing career choices. Registration is now available at: http://www.nationalacademies.org/moreworkshop.

December-January 2006/2007
ASPET Government and Public Affairs Report

Congress Expected to Extend Stopgap Funding for NIH The House and Senate passed on Nov 15 a continuing resolution (CR) that provides funds through Dec. 8 for government agencies whose FY’07 appropriations bills are not finalized. Only two of the 12 regular spending bills are law and the Labor-HHS-Education bill (H.R. 5647/S. 3708), that funds NIH is not one of them. The CR provides funds at the FY 2006 level. There is now the great likelihood that the Congressional Republican leadership will not move on these bills in this Congress. That means a new CR will likely be passed next week and may run through the early part of next year, possibly into early spring.

Congress Clears Animal Research Protection Act
The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, passed by the House and Senate this fall was signed into law by the President. The bill extends existing protections for animal research enterprises to individuals, businesses and agencies, such as scientists, biomedical and biotechnology industries, research universities, teaching hospitals, financial institutions and others who have associations with animal research. AETA calls for fines and/or imprisonment of animal rights advocates who threaten scientists conducting animal research or companies funding or affiliated with the research.

2007 Summer Short Courses in Integrative and Organ Systems Science
The past two summers, NIGMS has funded four short courses. These summer short courses will be offered again in 2007and 2008 at four institutions. The purpose of each short course is to introduce graduate students and PhDs 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 PhDs. with these skills are in great demand in both academic and industrial settings. For information on the NIGMS summer short courses visit:
http://www.aspet.org/public/public_affairs/pa_NIGMS_shortcourse_awards.html

NIGMS News
A new issue of the NIGMS Feedback Loop is coming out soon. This electronic newsletter alerts researchers to NIGMS funding opportunities, trends, and plans. It also encourages the scientific community to give input to the Institute. To receive the next issue and future issues (typically three per year), go to https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=nigms-feedback-loop&A=1 To view issues online, go to http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Publications/FeedbackLoop.htm. NIGMS has also posted new fact sheets, including one on pharmacology at: http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Publications/FactSheet_Drugs.htm

The November 2006 issue of the NIH Extramural Nexus, a special issue focused on Electronic Submission of R01 Grant Applications, is now available at the following URL: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/partners/1106Nexus.htm

NIH Director Elias Zerhouni and former House Appropriations Subcommittee Chair John Porter will speak about the "NIH at the Crossroads: How Diminished Funds Will Impact Biomedical Research and What Scientists Can Do About It." The talk is open to all EB registrants and will be held on Monday, April 30 from 12:45 – 1:45 pm in the Washington Convention Center. Dr. Zerhouni will provide his perspective and details on the current state of the NIH enterprise. Mr. Porter will provide a legislative overview of the FY 2008 outlook for the NIH. He will discuss how scientists have an obligation as citizens to become politically active and aware and make suggestions for what needs to be done to make an impact.

Also in the planning stages is EB Capitol Hill Days on April 30, May 1 and May 2. With scientists facing one of the most alarming periods to confront the biomedical research enterprise in recent years, ASPET and the other participating EB societies are encouraging their members to take advantage of a Washington meeting to promote biomedical research. Join us by making Capitol Hill visits during EB in support of increased funding for the NIH, NSF and other federal agencies.

The convergence of over 10,000 of your scientific colleagues in the Nation’s Capitol provides a unique opportunity for constituent scientists to educate Members of Congress about the need to provide robust funding for the NIH and other agencies. The public affairs staff from the participating EB societies will be able to assist you in these meetings. More detailed information will be forthcoming in the coming months.

NIH Seeks Your Input on Shorter Applications
NIH recently released an NIH Guide Notice seeking input on the concept of reducing the current 25 page limit for the Research Plan section of the research project grant (R01) application. Many reviewers and applicants have suggested that our peer review could be improved by a shorter application. The NIH Peer Review Advisory Committee and the NIH Institute and Center Directors Leadership Forum have responded by encouraging all stakeholders to consider the possibilities. For more information and to share your thoughts, please go to the NIH Guide notice: <Request for Information: Possible Page Limit Reduction For the Research Plan Section of the Research Project Grant (R01) Application>

FASEB News
For biweekly news from Capitol Hill view: http://opa.faseb.org/pages/Publications/washingtonupdate.htm

Funding Opportunities

Purity Specifications, Storage and Distribution for Medications Development: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DA-07-020.html

Exploratory/Developmental Centers for Translational Research on the Clinical Neurobiology of Drug Addiction:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-07-008.html

Drug Discovery for Nervous System Disorders: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-049.html

Mechanisms of Drug Abuse Interactions with HIV Neuropathogenesis: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-07-002.html

Extinction and Pharmacotherapies for Drug Addiction: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-07-010.html

Development of Assays for high Throughput Drug Screening: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-054.html

Developmental Psychopharmacology: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-084.html

Drug Discovery for Nervous System Disorders: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-048.html