2011-06-16
NIH Funding Update: Grassroots Effort to Secure Early Support for NIH
Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Richard Burr (R-NC) initiated an effort to secure support for National Institutes of Health (NIH) early in the appropriations process in what is expected to be a year of severe budget cuts. To help them in their effort, ASH and others in the research community launched a grassroots campaign to ask senators to support funding for the NIH in fiscal year (FY) 2012. As a result, 41 senators, including seven Republicans, signed a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee urging support for biomedical research at the NIH. This strong bipartisan show of support for biomedical research is crucial as pressure increases by the Republican leadership in Congress to cut federal spending. Read more.
Physician Payment Back in Congressional Spotlight
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) released its customary June report advising Congress on adjustments to Medicare provider payments. Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has issued a report detailing cost estimates for a range of different approaches to heading off a 29 percent cut in Medicare payments to physicians scheduled to take effect January 1. Read more.
Plans for National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) & Dissolving the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) Move Forward
The Department of Health and Human Services and the NIH are moving forward with creation of a new National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) and dissolution of the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) at the NIH. Read more.
FDA Solicits Input on Draft Guidance on In Vitro Diagnostic Products Labeled for Research Use Only or Investigational Use Only
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a draft guidance document entitled "Commercially Distributed In Vitro Diagnostic Products Labeled for Research Use Only or Investigational Use Only: Frequently Asked Questions"and is soliciting public comment. ASH has recently heard from several hematopathologists who raised questions and concerns about how this guidance could have significant adverse effects and negatively impact laboratory diagnostics. Read more.
Immune Tolerance Network Seeks Proposals for Clinical Research Funding Opportunity
The Immune Tolerance Network (ITN), a clinical research consortium dedicated to the development of immune tolerance therapies for autoimmune disease and transplantation, is currently seeking short "Concept Proposals" for novel clinical trials designed to induce immune tolerance in combined allogeneic solid organ transplantation plus therapeutic cell transfer. The ITN is asking for proposal submissions by August 31 for a funding decision in the fall.
Nominations Being Accepted for First ASH Advocacy Leadership Institute
ASH is proud to announce the initiation of its Advocacy Leadership Institute. This is a unique opportunity for ASH members to come to Washington, DC to learn about legislation and health policy affecting hematology. Nominations are currently being accepted through August 15, 2011. Read more.
NIH Office of Extramural Research Releases Latest Newsletter
The NIH Office of Extramural Research has released the latest edition of its monthly newsletter, which includes information on how the NIH plans to move forward with FY 2011 funding, mapping publications to grants, the number of grants held by NIH investigators, and more. Read more.
