Questions about animal research?

APS offers straight forward answers.

Resource Book Now Available

Click here for more info on The APS Resource Book for the Design of Animal Exercise Protocols.

Science Policy

Current Highlights

NIH Update at EB 20121/12/12

Officials from several National Institutes of Health (NIH) ICDs will provide an update on research programs and policies at EB 2012 in San Diego. The session entitled �National Institutes of Health: Programs and Policies Update from Institutes� will take place from 2–4 PM on Tuesday, April 24 in Room 1A of the San Diego Convention Center.

Science Board Revisits NSF Merit Review Criteria1/12/12

On January 10, 2012, the National Science Board (NSF) released recommendations on the National Science Foundation�s (NSF) Merit Review Criteria. The Board made no changes to the criteria themselves but told NSF to provide definitions articulating the essential elements of the criteria.

APS Urges Public-Private Partnership on Public Access1/12/12

On January 11, 2012, APS submitted comments to a Request for Information from the Office of Science and Technology Policy concerning public access to peer-reviewed scholarly publications resulting from federally-funded research. In its comments, APS recommended that federal agencies �work in a collaborative manner with all stakeholders to develop an approach [to public access] that balances competing interests, ensures the rights of copyright owners, and provides for continued growth an innovation in scientific communication.�

NIH Creates NCATS, Dissolves NCRR, Reorganizes NIGMS 1/9/12

NIH has established a new National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Click for details of the new Center and the new homes of programs previously housed in the National Center for Research Resources.

Congress Finalizes FY 2012 Research Budgets12/17/11

On December 17, 2011, Congress passed an omnibus spending bill containing fiscal year (FY) 2012 funding for most of the federal government, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and VA medical and prosthetic research.

APS Leadership Meets with NIH Officials12/17/11

On October 19, 2011, APS President Joey Granger, President-elect Sue Barman, Past President Peter Wagner and Science Policy Chair John Chatham met with officials at the NIH to discuss several issues of concern to APS members.

Additional Chimpanzee Research Guidelines Offered by IOM Panel12/16/11

On December 15, 2011, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its long-awaited report, �Assessing the Necessity of Chimpanzees in Biomedical and Behavioral Research.� Following a briefing where the key findings were presented, NIH Director Francis Collins announced that NIH accepted the report and would begin implementing its recommendations.

APS Comments on Building a 21^st Century Bioeconomy12/5/11

The APS responded to a request for information from the Office of Science and Technology Policy soliciting input on �harnessing biological research innovations to meet national challenges in health, food, energy, and the environment while creating high-wage, high-skill jobs.�

APS Comments on Managing NIH Resources 11/28/11

In response to a request for input from the NIH on how best to manage resources in fiscally challenging times, the APS submitted a response recommending that the NIH consider the long term consequences of any changes to funding policy and focus on maintaining success rates at a level of at least 30%. APS also recommended using a diversity of approaches to alleviating the funding crunch, and continuing to prioritize funding for early stage investigators.

NIH Seeks Input on Budget Management 11/9/11

The NIH is seeking ideas and input on how to best to manage and distribute the agency�s finite resources at a time when federal budgets are declining.

APS Comments on Proposed Revisions to Human Subjects Protections 10/24/11

The APS responded to an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking issued by the Department of Health and Human Services entitled Human Subjects Research Protections: Enhancing Protections for Research Subjects and Reducing Burden, Delay, and Ambiguity for Investigators.

APS Comments on Biomedical Workforce 10/4/11

In response to a request for information from the National Institutes of Health, APS submitted comments to the working group of the Advisory Committee to the Director that is examining the future of the biomedical workforce.

NIH Updates Financial Conflict of Interest Rules 8/26/11

The Department of Health and Human Services has issued a final rule for financial conflicts of interest among extramural researchers.

Congress Works to Rein in Federal Spending 8/26/11

The recently passed Budget Control Act will essentially freeze the budget at fiscal year 2011 levels for the next two years to allow the economy time to recover before imposing funding cuts.

Implementation Plans for the new Guide 8/9/11

NIH and AAALAC, Intl. both use the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals as a standard for animal care and use programs, but each has different plans for implementing the new 8^th edition.

The APS Comments on the Pet Safety and Protection Act of 2011 8/1/11

The APS sent a letter to cosponsors of the Pet Safety and Protection Act of 2011 (HR 2256) asking them to allow the NIH program to replace Class B dealers to come to fruition instead of implementing an immediate ban.

APS Comments on Ethics Regulation 6/22/11

The Office of Government Ethics (OGE) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would change the regulations that define how a government employee can participate in a nonprofit organization. The OGE proposes to change the regulations such that federal employees no longer have to obtain waivers to participate on non-profit boards as long as they comply with all conflict of interest rules set forth by their agency. The APS submitted comments in support of the rule change.

NSF Seeks Input on Review Criteria 6/17/11

The NSF is seeking stakeholder input on proposed merit review criteria revision and principles. A National Science Board Task Force has revised the two main merit review criteria (intellectual merit and broader impacts) and identified a set of guiding principles for the review process. They will be accepting comments until July 14, 2011. For more details and instructions for submitting comments, see the notice on the NSF website.

APS Submits Comments on the Guide to OLAW5/16/11

APS submitted comments May 17 on NIH�s plans to adopt the 8th edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. While supporting most of the Guide�s updates, APS expressed concerned that NIH�s enforcement strategies undermine the use of the Guide as performance standards.

APS Recommends $35 Billion for NIH in FY 20125/10/11

On May 10, 2011 the APS sent a letter to Members of Congress recommending that the NIH be funded at a level of $35 billion in fiscal year 2012.

Be an advocate for research! Opportunities at EB2/10/11

Since Experimental Biology 2011 is being held in Washington, DC, attendees have the opportunity to go to Capitol Hill to meet with Members of Congress and their staff to advocate for biomedical research. Find out what you need to know to become a research advocate.

Highlights of EU Directive 2010/632/2/11

APS offers a summary of the articles in EU Directive 2010/63

European Union to Implement New Animal Welfare Rules in 20132/01/11

The European Union (EU) has adopted a new set of requirements for the protection of animals in scientific procedures including those for research, education, and training.

NIH Board Approves Plan to Create New Center 1/18/11

The NIH Scientific Management Review Board met and voted to recommend the creation of a new Center to focus on translational research. The proposed Center will be called the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS).

APS Leadership Meets with NIH Officials 1/11/11

APS President Peter Wagner, Past President Gary Sieck, President-elect Joey Granger, Science Policy Committee Chair John Chatham, and Executive Director Marty Frank met with officials at the National Institutes of Health to discuss APS priorities.

American Physiological Society Comments on Proposed Changes at NIH1/3/11

The APS has sent a letter to Director Collins outlining our concerns regarding elimination of National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) so that the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) can be created.

American Physiological Society Condemns Threats Against Researchers12/9/10

The APS condemns extremist actions against researchers in the strongest possible terms. Harassment, threats, and violence contribute nothing to the betterment of animal welfare, nor do they promote dialogue or thoughtful consideration of serious issues.

NIH Submits Plan to Replace Class B Dogs9/24/10

In April NIH submitted a plan to the Senate Appropriations Committee to phase out the use by extramural researchers of dogs and cats purchased from Class B dealers over the next 4 years.

APS Announces New Position Statements on Animals in Research8/31/10

APS has posted two new position statements on animals in research: “Animal Research is Essential to the Search for Cures” and an updated “Guiding Principles for the Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals in Research and Training.”

APS Comments on Proposed Financial Conflict of Interest Rules8/16/10

The APS submitted comments on the NIH�s notice of proposed rulemaking on financial conflicts of interest for extramural researchers.