Links to Other ASM Pages:
Public Affairs Report
ASM Submits Nominees for NIH Microbiology and Infectious Disease Study Section Reorganization
Center For Scientific Review Reorganization Activities
Recommendations For Change At The NIH'S Center For Scientific Review
On 1 April, ASM submitted nominations to the NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR) to consider for participation on the panel that will draft the topics for reorganizing the study sections within the Infectious Disease and Microbiology (IDM) Integrated Research Groups (IRGs). Phase 1 of the CSR study section reorganization process, referred to as Scientific Boundaries for Peer Review, designed the topics to be covered by IRGs. In Phase 2, which is currently under way, committees with broad scientific expertise, referred to as Study Section Boundary (SSB) Teams, are being given the task of deciding which topics should be covered by the individual study sections under each IRG.
The NIH CSR asked ASM to recommend scientists to participate on the SSB team that will revise the study sections within the Infectious Diseases and Microbiology IRG. This IRG contains many areas of interest to ASM members, including basic through clinical research in bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology, and vaccines, but not immunology, AIDS, genetics and population biology. ASM has already recommended scientists to participate in the reorganization of the Immunological Sciences study sections and expects to be asked to submit nominations for the Fundamental Genetics and Population Biology IRG.
Martha Howe, Past President of ASM, has been leading a process to generate recommendations from ASM for the SSB teams. She has held numerous conference calls with focus groups composed of more than 80 ASM members with experience on study sections and journal editorial boards, American Academy of Microbiology fellows, and other experts in specific topic areas. Following discussions of potential nominees, each conference call participant submitted independent rankings, which were used in developing the list of ASM nominees. Questions and concerns regarding issues of relevance to the IDM and other IRGs may be submitted to Dr. Howe at mhowe@utmem.edu . The SSB team for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology is scheduled to meet on 10-12 July 2002. Abigail Salyers, President of ASM, has been invited to attend the meeting. After the SSB Team develops a proposal for the new study sections at its July meeting, the CSR will seek input from the broader research community by posting the proposed study section topics on the Web for a period of 3 months for public comments. After comments are received, CSR with assistance from the NIH Steering Committee and SSB Team may refine the plans prior to implementation.
ASM Meetings with Agency Officials To Discuss Research Issues
On 15 March, Gail Cassell, chair of the ASM Public and Scientific Affairs Board, Ronald Atlas, president-elect of ASM, and Janet Shoemaker, ASM director of Public Affairs, met with Michael Ascher, assistant director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness (OPHP), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and D. A. Henderson, director of the DHHS OPHP, to discuss issues related to implementation of the regulations for certain dangerous biological agents and toxins. On 13 March, ASM Public Affairs staff met to discuss infectious disease- and bioterrorism-related programs with James Hughes, director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Julie Gerberding, acting principal deputy director of CDC with a focus on bioterrorism preparedness and response. On 15 March, Abigail Salyers, president of ASM, Gail Cassell, Ron Atlas, and ASM staff met with John LaMontagne, deputy director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, to discuss issues related to NIH funding of bacteriology research and training.
ASM Meets with OSTP Officials
Ronald Atlas, president-elect of ASM, Abigail Salyers, president of ASM, Gail Cassell, chair of the ASM Public and Scientific Affairs Board, and Janet Shoemaker, director of ASM Public Affairs, met on 26 March with the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Assistant Director for National Security and Homeland Defense Parney Albright, Rachel Levinson, OSTP Assistant Director for Life Science, and William Leary, Senior Director, Records and Access Management, National Security Council. ASM was invited to the meeting at OSTP to be briefed about the 19 March memo, instructions, and guidance from Andrew Card, White House chief of staff, to federal agencies about securing government documents related to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons of mass destruction. The White House memo instructing agencies to review records to ensure that information that could reasonably be expected to assist in the development or use of weapons of mass destruction is not disclosed inappropriately, consistent with existing law and policy, applies to U.S. government documents that clearly relate to biological weapons development and use and covers unclassified records from the offensive U.S. biological weapons program that ended in 1969. According to OSTP, the memo does not apply to the open literature or to National Institutes of Health- and National Science Foundation-sponsored research or to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Federal agencies and departments have until 19 June to complete the reviews of their document holdings related to the development and use of weapons of mass destruction. ASM discussed the possible misapplication of the instructions to peaceful research and public health information and the definitions and methods that agencies will use to search their document holdings. The OSTP is prepared to work with ASM and other scientific organizations to ensure continued access to scientific and health information.
ASM Testimony on FY 2003 R&D Budgets
ASM submitted testimony to House and Senate appropriations subcommittees in support of increased funding for the research and education programs within the National Science Foundation, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Energy's Office of Science, the Environmental Protection Agency's research and water programs, the Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Geological Survey. The following is a brief summary of the testimony submitted to Congress for Fiscal Year (FY) 2003.
National Science Foundation. ASM supported the Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) recommendation to provide no less than $5.5 billion, a $718 million (or 15%) increase, for the National Science Foundation (NSF) in FY 2003. Within the Biological Directorate, ASM endorsed the President's proposed $79 million budget for Biocomplexity and $7.4 million for the new Tree of Life program. The ASM recommended $20 million for the National Ecological Observatory Network. NSF's leadership in multidisciplinary research is a vital component of the nation's increasingly complex science enterprise and will ensure that opportunities for new scientists across the sciences remains viable and attractive.
Department of Agriculture. ASM supported the administration's budget proposals for U.S. Department of Agriculture research programs related to new and reemerging diseases, agroterrorism, and food safety and security. ASM endorsed the administration's budget of $240 million for the National Research Initiative and its microbial genomic research in particular for FY 2003. ASM also recommended that Congress increase the Agricultural Research Service budget above the President's proposed $1 billion for FY 2003.
Department of Energy. ASM endorsed the administration's budget for the Department of Energy (DOE) Genome to Life Program at $36 million, the Climate Change Initiative at $137 million, and recommended increasing funding for the Microbial Genomics Program to $15 million and the Natural and Accelerated Bioremediation Program to $30 million for FY 2003.
Environmental Protection Agency. ASM is very concerned about the administration's proposed flat funding of $100 million for FY 2003 for the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program, the Environmental Protection Agency extramural research initiative. ASM recommended that Congress increase funding for this program to $110 million. ASM also recommended that Congress restore funding ($9.7 million) to the Graduate Environmental Fellowship Program.
U.S. Geological Survey. ASM advised Congress that the administration's proposed cuts will severely restrict the ability of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) ability to provide unbiased environmental monitoring and research in FY 2003. Administration cuts result in an overall budget of $867 million, a decrease of $47 million from FY 2002. ASM recommended that Congress restore funding to two critical interagency water quality programs, the Toxic Substances Hydrology Program ($14 million) and the State Water Resources Research Institute Program ($6 million). In addition, ASM recommended that the USGS expand its capabilities in wildlife disease detection, control, and prevention. ASM supported the establishment of the Wildlife Disease Initiative ($10 million), an integrative, interagency program that combines animal and human health as elements of public health.
Email: webmaster@asmusa.org