Category: Science Policy

ASIP Research and Science Policy Committee Action Alert!

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ASIP Research and Science Policy Committee Action Alert!

The FY22 appropriations process is underway, with Members of Congress weighing in with appropriators on funding levels. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Richard Burr (R-NC) are circulating a “Dear Colleague” asking their fellow Senators to sign onto a letter supporting strong funding for NIH in FY22.

The FY22 appropriations process is underway, with Members of Congress weighing in with appropriators on funding levels. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Richard Burr (R-NC) are circulating a “Dear Colleague” asking their fellow Senators to sign onto a letter supporting strong funding for NIH in FY22.  Take action by using this editable email and/or Tweet asking your Senators to sign on (or thanking them if they already have). The more Senators who sign onto the Casey/Burr letter, the greater the chances of robust funding for NIH in FY22. As always, thank you for your partnership and your advocacy.

Advocate for Supplemental Funding for NIH-funded Investigators

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On Capitol Hill: Regrettably, there are no dollars to fill COVID-19 engendered research gaps — meaning all the many research programs put on hold or even shelved as the pandemic consumes attention — in the $1.9T relief package the House will vote on next week. That’s why we must all advocate for inclusion in the next supplemental, which is in the works. So much is at stake — answers for patients and the ability of researchers to generate those answers. The American taxpayer has invested a great deal in research and researchers; it is penny wise and pound foolish to leave so many of them high and dry at this point. Your Members of Congress can urge Congressional leadership to include research relief in the next supplemental spending bill. Use this editable email or tweet to make the case.

Action Alert: Time-Sensitive Action

Congress returns to Washington, D.C. next week and in the House, committee and Floor action will begin on the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. Unfortunately, there are no dollars in the package to fill COVID-19 induced research gaps ; however, work is starting now on a second relief package that will reportedly focus on strengthening infrastructure, growing jobs, and stimulating the economy.

ASIP Member Dr. Dennis Jones Selected as Inaugural Early Career Representative to FASEB Board

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Dennis Jones, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Boston University has been selected as the inaugural early career representative to the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Board of Directors. Dr. Jones was nominated for this position by the American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP), and will begin his three year term in July 2020. FASEB represents 28 constituent Societies and more than 130,000 researchers from across the world. FASEB is recognized as the research and science policy voice for biomedical investigators. Dr. Jones’s selection to serve on the FASEB board recognizes his status as early investigator who will contribute to the direction of scientific studies.

Dr. Jones was recruited to ASIP membership when he became a faculty member at Boston University by ASIP Past President Dr. Dan Remick who served as Chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the time. Dr. Jones immediately engaged in our Society’s functions and activities, and his immense potential was quickly recognized when he was chosen to receive a prestigious George Michalopoulos Junior Faculty Research Award in 2019. Dr. Jones’ laboratory was selected to host a summer research student through the ASIP Summer Research Opportunity in Pathology Program (SROPP) during the summer of 2019. He has also taken on a leadership role with the ASIP Breast Cancer Scientific Interest Group, collaborating with others to organize scientific sessions for the ASIP Annual Meeting. In all of these Society pursuits, Dr. Jones brings a clear understanding of the challenges faced by young academic faculty members that run an academic research program. Dr. Jones has experience with NIH and other grant funding sources, the need to publish, the importance of teaching and training students, and the frequent burden of regulation faced by research scientists.

It is clear that Dr. Jones is the model of an early career academic researcher that recognizes the importance of membership in scientific societies like the ASIP and the important role that FASEB plays in representing working scientists across the United States. He will provide an informed voice for young investigators who face tremendous challenges as they pursue basic and translational research in the current funding and regulatory environment.

Return of Individual Research Results: A Guide for Biomedical Researchers Utilizing Human Biospecimens

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Available for FREE to all readers as an Editor’s Choice article for May.

Abstract

The recent movement toward returning individual research results to study subjects/participants generates ethical and legal challenges for laboratories performing research on human biospecimens. The concept of an individual’s interest in knowing the results of testing on their tissue is pitted against individual and systemic risks and an established legal framework regulating the performance of laboratory testing for medical care purposes. This article discusses the rationale for returning individual research results to subjects, the potential risks associated with returning these results, and the legal framework in the United States that governs testing of identifiable human biospecimens. On the basis of these considerations, this article provides recommendations for investigators to consider when planning and executing human biospecimen research, with the objective of appropriately balancing the interests of research subjects, the need for ensuring integrity of the research process, and compliance with US laws and regulations.

DOI

Read more

Authors

The authors are members of the ASIP Research and Science Policy Committee

Publications

Mark E. Sobel, MD, PhD, Jennifer C. Dreyfus, MBA, Kelsey Dillehay McKillip, PhD, Christi Kolarcik, PhD, William A. Muller, MD, PhD, Gene P. Siegal, MD, PhD, Melanie Scott, MD, PhD, , Kristine Wadosky, PhD, Timothy J. O’Leary, MD, PhD

ASIP SCIENCE POLICY

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The Research and Science Policy Committee, currently chaired by William Muller of Northwestern University, supports ASIP by ensuring that the public affairs concerns of ASIP members are heard within ASIP, in cooperation with FASEB and in the wider biomedical and research communities. Areas of active interest to the ASIP Research and Science Policy Committee are listed below with links to current information.

Return of Individual Research Results: A Guide for Biomedical Researchers Utilizing Human Biospecimens

Advocating on behalf of funding for Pathology Research 
(click here for quick and easy tools)

Human Subjects Research Protection and Biomedical Ethics

Research Funding, Submission and Related Concerns

Laboratory Developed Tests

Clinical trials – Expanded definition

Clinician Scientist Workforce

Animals in Research

Administrative Burden

Resources for Next-Generation Scientists

Other areas of interest to the ASIP Research and Science Policy Committee include translational research, gene patent law; health information technology as it applies to the research enterprise; creating a physician-scientist track for Pathology Board certification; reduction in NIH’s graduate education funding; open access and open government initiatives; HIPPA policy impact on research; and issues related to biorepository and biosecurity regulation.

To contribute your point of view on any issue, please contact the ASIP Research and Science Policy Committee through Jennifer Dreyfus at jdreyfus@asip.org. Thank you!