2009-07-16

House Appropriations Subcommittee Approves FY 2010 NIH Funding Bill
The House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee approved its version of the fiscal year (FY) 2010 Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Appropriations bill on July 10. The draft bill includes $30.967 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an increase of $500 million over President Obama's request, and $942 million over final FY 2009 funding levels. Read more.

Senate Committee Passes Health Reform Legislation
On July 15, the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Chaired by Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), passed the Affordable Health Choices Act. This is the first health-care reform bill to be voted out of committee. Read more.

President Obama to Nominate Francis Collins as NIH Director
President Obama has announced his intent to nominate Francis Collins, MD, PhD, to become Director of the NIH. Read more.

President Obama Nominates Dr. Regina Benjamin as Surgeon General
President Obama has nominated Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA, to become Surgeon General of the United States. Read more.

Obama Administration Releases Final Guidelines on Human Stem Cell Research; New Rules Will Allow Research on More Stem Cell Lines
The Obama Administration has released final guidelines governing human embryonic stem cell research to implement the President’s March 9, 2009, Executive Order that will allow many of the approximately 700 existing cell lines to be eligible for federal funding. Read more.

ASH Commends House, Senate on Comparative Effectiveness Funding
ASH, along with 61 other medical societies, sent letters to the members of the House and Senate commending them for providing funding for important comparative effectiveness research initiatives within the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Federal Council, Institute of Medicine Release Comparative Effectiveness Reports
Two advisory bodies have released reports on comparative effectiveness research that were authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Read more.

NIH Office of Extramural Research Releases July 2009 Newsletter
The NIH Office of Extramural Research has released its July 2009 newsletter, which includes information on the final NIH Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding opportunities, and the new features included in peer-review summary statements.