SfN Encourages Congress to Reject Flat-Funding and Bolster Investment in Biomedical Research
The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) joins a broad spectrum of coalition partners to urge Congress to strengthen support of scientific research by rejecting the administration’s call for flat-funding of NIH and NSF in its FY2019 budget. Congress should continue the progress gained over the last several years to remedy years of underfunding. That means finishing the FY 2018 funding process by passing a strong increase investment in research by supporting an addition $2 billion increase for NIH and fully supporting NSF at the highest levels possible in FY19.
Scientific research funded by the NIH and NSF is an investment in solving our most complex public health challenges and yields significant economic benefits for our nation. To flat fund the NSF and the non-opioid portion of NIH’s research and discovery efforts is tantamount to a cut to scientific discovery when accounting for inflation.
“Without robust, sustained investment it may be nearly impossible to realize the potential advancements of programs such as the BRAIN Initiative, and research into Alzheimer’s disease, autism, and Parkinson’s that have enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support,” said SfN President Richard Huganir. Alleviating unnecessary suffering from these disorders would reduce healthcare costs and ease the burden on millions of families.
Americans agree that scientific research should be supported by the federal government and that Congress should assign a high priority to increasing funding for medical research (America Speaks: Poll Data Summary, Volume 17. Research America 2017.). Through strong investment today, the U.S. can continue to lead the world in neuroscience discoveries and collaborate globally to advance understanding of the brain and uncover new pathways to treat and cure our most devastating brain disorders.
The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) is an organization of 37,000 basic scientists and clinicians who study the brain and nervous system. Learn more about SfN advocacy priorities surrounding research funding and about brain science at BrainFacts.org.
