This Week in Science Policy and Advocacy
Policy and Advocacy News
Pharma Industry to Work with NIH on Opioid Crisis
September 18, 2017 | The Philadelphia Inquirer
Gov. Chris Christie, chairman of the Trump administrations national opioid commission, announced that the NIH and 14 pharmaceutical companies will share data and collaborate to develop non-addictive pain medicine and new medication-assisted treatments for current opioid addicts. Some are skeptical about this partnership since the pharmaceutical industry has played a large role in the opioid epidemic, but others remain optimistic that this collaboration will aid in solving the opioid crisis.
- Learn about U.S. advocacy programs at SfN.org
UK Strikes Research Deal With US in Run-Up to Brexit
September 20, 2017 | BBC
A recently reached agreement between the US and the UK aims to maintain collaborative efforts between the countries through a legal framework that will make it easier for researchers to travel, collaborate, and share facilities. British officials see this agreement as a clear message that UK science remains outward facing.
- Join the Advocacy Network to stay informed about issues related to neuroscience research at SfN.org
United Kingdom Sees Dip in European Research Applications After Brexit Vote
September 21, 2017 | Nature
The number of applications for an EU funded fellowship based in the UK has decreased following the UK’s decision to leave the EU. While the decline in applications hints that there could be less interest in working in Britain, there is no clear sign that the Brexit vote has immediately dented the UK’s attractiveness to EU scientists. Scientists warn against being complacent about this the issue of competitiveness, stating that it is still possible for the research system’s stature to decrease over time.
- Find information about global advocacy programs at SfN.org
Opinion
Love Your Dog, Support Animal Research
September 17, 2017 | The Wall Street Journal
In this op-ed, Matt Bailey, President, Foundation for Biomedical Research, discusses ways in which pets, livestock, and wildlife benefit from animal research. Bailey argues that animal lovers and animal-rights groups should support animal research since it produces positive benefits for animals themselves.
- Read more about animal research at SfN.org
Articles of Interest
Ambitious Neuroscience Project to Probe How the Brain Makes Decisions
September 21, 2017 | The Guardian
Twenty-one labs in the US and Europe are coming together to form a research group, the International Brain Laboratory (IBL), aimed at uncovering how the brain takes information from the outside world, understands it, and forms a decision. The IBL also hopes to overcome research flaws by streamlining experiments, sharing data with members immediately, and analyzing information with the same software.
- Learn more about the neuroscience of decision making on BrainFacts.org
Playing Tackle Football Before 12 is Tied to Brain Problems Later
September 19, 2017 | The New York Times
A new study found that those who started playing tackle football before the age of 12 had more behavioral and cognitive issues than those who started playing after the age of 12. The human brain develops fast at young ages, specifically between 10 and 12, and researchers argue that inflicting hard impacts at a young age could cause harm later in life. Findings are consistent with a previous study examining the brains of boys between the ages of 8 and 13 which found that just one season of tackle football caused diminished function in parts of participant’s brain.
- Watch a video about the consequences of repetitive head impacts on BrainFacts.org
A New Study is Changing How Scientists Think About Alzheimer's Disease
September 20, 2017 | Science
Findings from a studying looking at the protein ApoE4 found that its most toxic effects to amyloid pathology may result from an immune response to the protein tau. The findings also provide a possible solution to the debate over whether Alzheimer’s treatments should focus on tau or amyloid by suggesting that both could be targeted through ApoE4.
- Find more information on Alzheimer’s on BrainFacts.org
Giving Migraine Treatments the Best Chance
September 18, 2017 | The New York Times
This article looks at the pathology of migraines and treatments associated with them. Those that study migraines now approach them as a brain-based disorder, and this new understanding of migraines has led to treatments that are more potent or less disruptive. Remedies include the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and a new class of drugs that directly target peptides, which are believed to trigger migraines, is nearing federal approval.
- Read more about migraines on BrainFacts.org
