The National Institutes of Health (NIH) May 26 released a notice limiting the permissible types of research involving chimpanzees. As of May 25, NIH will not fund any new or competing grants involving chimpanzees, with the exception of "noninvasive research," which includes visual observation and behavioral studies. Additionally, research applications proposing the use of chimpanzees will be s…

The NIH Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) has released its 2016-2020 Strategic Plan. ORIP's mission is to support trans-NIH research infrastructure and resource programs and to coordinate NIH's science education efforts. The strategic plan is divided into three thematic areas: Developing models of human diseases Accelerating research discoveries by providing access to state-o…

The roll-out of the new Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA or the Overtime Rule) has begun with a press release from the White House. Of specific interest to the research community, however, is an op-ed published in the Huffington Post co-authored by NIH Director Francis Collins and Labor Secretary Thomas Perez stating that: Postdocs are not exempt from the rule, and are thus eligible for ove…

On May 11, the NIH announced the appointment of Patricia Flatley Brennan, RN, PhD, to lead the National Library of Medicine, the world's largest biomedical library. Dr. Brennan is currently at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she is a Professor at the School of Nursing and College of Engineering. Dr. Brennan has been a pioneer in the development of information systems for patients a…

Earlier this month the White House Office of Science and Technology (OSTP), in collaboration with federal agencies and private-sector stakeholders, announced the launch of the National Microbiome Initiative that will seek to increase understanding of microbiome function and improve efforts to preserve and restore microbiomes. The initiative includes a combined federal agency investment of mor…

On May 5, the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), an ASPET partner, responded to a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on identifying and reducing regulatory burdens. The RFI sought feedback from the community on USDA regulations that could be modified, expanded, streamlined, or repealed to make their progra…

House still at an impasse with budget resolution; Senate moves forwards with “Innovations” bills without clear funding mechanism.  House Budget Committee Republicans met earlier this month in another attempt to seek out common ground on a budget resolution. Following the meeting, it remains unclear whether they are close to passing a budget for FY 2017. The conference can't agree on the spendin…

The Senate HELP committee has approved the final biomedical innovation bills that form its counterpart to the Cures Act.  The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee has since February been working on a companion bill to the House-approved 21st Century Cures bill.  The committee approved the final biomedical innovation bills that form its counterpart to the Cures Act.  Togeth…

The Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ), has selected Dr. Andrew Bindman as new Director  The Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ), has selected Dr. Andrew Bindman as the new Director; he assumed his post on May 2nd.  Previously, Bindman worked as a doctor at San Francisco General Hospital, advised HHS and CMS on improvements to data analytics for Medicaid, and served as an RWJF…

Senate Committee moving forward companion to House 21st Century Cures Act with the approval of 19 pieces of bipartisan legislation making full-Senate consideration likely.  Following a successful, bipartisan committee process and approval of the last of 19 bipartisan pieces of legislation that will become the Senate companion to the 21st Century Cures Act – passed last year by the House of Re…