2009-01-15

House Adds NIH Funding to Proposed Economic Recovery Package
House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) has unveiled the details of the House version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009, which includes $1.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund research grants to expand "good jobs in biomedical research to study diseases." The bill also includes an addition $1.5 billion for NIH to fund projects to "renovate university research facilities and help them compete for biomedical research grants." Visit the ASH Advocacy Center to take action in support of NIH funding. Read more.

ASH Submits Comments on Research Need for Isotopes to Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC) Isotopes Subcommittee
ASH has submitted comments to the Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC) Isotopes Subcommittee in response to a workshop report that assessed the nation’s current and future needs for isotopes. Read more.

Senate Holds Confirmation Hearing for HHS Secretary Nominee Daschle
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, under the leadership of Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), held an initial confirmation hearing on January 8 to consider the nomination of former-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Read more.

Top Level Interim Positions Announced at HHS; Daschle Announces Nominee for HHS Deputy Secretary
HHS has announced that a number of top-level interim or acting positions will take effect on January 20 and last until the new Obama Administration appoints individuals to various leadership positions and the Senate confirms them. Meanwhile, HHS Secretary-designate Daschle has announced that William Corr will be nominated to become Deputy Secretary at HHS. Read more.

NIH Releases First Biennial Report of the Director
The Acting Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Raynard Kington, MD, has announced the public release of the first Biennial Report of the Director. Read more.

NIH Unveils New Research, Condition, and Disease Categorization (RCDC) System
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is set to formally unveil the new Research, Condition, and Disease Categorization (RCDC) system. RCDC will offer the public, scientists, and the NIH staff a quick and easy way to get a complete list of research projects funded in 215 specific research areas, diseases, or conditions. Read more.

Stem Cell Research Coalition Releases Report on Embryonic Stem Cell Research
The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) has released a white paper entitled Catalyst for Cures: Embryonic Stem Cell Research, which outlines the views of nine of the nation’s leading scientists on the promises and challenges of embryonic stem cell research. Read more.

Introduction of Health Reform Legislation May Be Later Than Originally Planned
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and who has also been at the forefront of the health reform debate, has indicated that he will be introducing health reform legislation later than he originally expected. Read more.