FABBS reports on items of interest to many communities – scientists, policymakers, and the public. In our news, you will see updates on science funding and policy, articles that translate research for policy, and descriptions of the research contributions of scientists at all stages of their research careers.
To End the Cycle of Poverty, Begin in the Womb
January 9, 2018
We have long known that environmental toxins can have an adverse impact on pregnant mothers and their infants, but it turns out the environment can have a subtler impact than once thought. Chronic, pronounced stress during pregnancy impacts a baby’s brain development in ways that can negatively affect attention, self-control, and behavior for years to come. That kind of stress is more commonly experienced by people living in poverty, and may help to explain the notoriously
read moreNIH Hosts Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Festival
January 9, 2018
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) and the NIH Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Coordinating Committee (BSSR-CC) held a research festival, Connecting People to Advance Health, on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, on December 8th. The festival featured NIH-funded research and provided the opportunity for NIH extramural and intramural behavioral and social scientists to network, exchange ideas, and
read moreUnfinished Business Awaits Congress in 2018
January 9, 2018
Congress returned to Washington, DC on January 3rd with a long list of unfinished business—especially as it relates to the federal budget. On December 21, Congress passed, and the President subsequently signed, H.R. 1370, a continuing resolution (CR), to fund the federal government through January 19, 2018. This was the third CR since the start of the fiscal year on October 1, 2017, and it is likely Congress and the Administration will need to agree on the terms of a fourth
read moreStruggles with NIH Clinical Trial Policies Continue For Basic Scientists
January 9, 2018
For at least six months now, NIH and segments of the basic science community have been engaged in a dialogue around the agency’s operationalization of the clinical trials definition to include much basic science involving humans. Through petitions, open letters (see NIH Director Awardee letter and Study Section Chairs letter), emails, responses to NIH blog posts, Advisory Council discussions, and more, the back-and-forth has led to some improvements in the process (e.g.,
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