FASEB Virtual Capitol Hill Day Is a Success

By: Ellen Kuo
Thursday, March 31, 2022
On March 10, advocates from FASEB and nearly all of its 30 member societies joined together to speak to Congress about its fiscal year (FY 2023) funding recommendations. Researchers from across the country provided real life examples as to why federally funded research is vital to the vibrancy of the U.S. biomedical enterprise and serves as a critical training ground for early-career researchers. For example, one researcher discussed her research on bone disorders especially in the elderly—a growing population in the United States—using NIH funding. Another told the story of research being negatively impacted by the pandemic. Mouse models that he and his team raised to approximately 2 years of age to develop Alzheimer’s had to be euthanized when research could not be done while labs were closed due to COVID. This was a significant loss of research time and money toward finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. 

This once-a-year event produced 113 meetings with congressional offices using a virtual platform that advocates found easy to use. It also compiled background materials and talking points for the 73 advocates from 33 states who completed 62 Senate meetings and 51 House meetings. FASEB thanks its advocates for their fantastic work in making the day a success and is especially grateful to the American Association of Immunologists, the American Physiological Society, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, American Society for Investigative Pathology, and the Society for Developmental Biology for sponsoring the participation of additional scientists from key states and congressional districts.