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.
Clues to Violence May Be Visible in the Brain
May 23, 2018
Aggression has destructive and painful impacts on society, as we have seen with mass shootings, domestic violence, and childhood bullying. It is strongly tied to mental health problems, and can manifest not only in antisocial personality and conduct disorders but also with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), narcissistic personality disorder, alcohol dependence, and even anxiety and depression. But it appears that some common brain pathways underlie violent behaviors
read moreNICHD Commits to Five-Year Strategic Plan
May 23, 2018
Details are emerging about the process the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is pursuing to craft a new strategic plan. In 2011, former NICHD Director Alan Guttmacher led a scientific “visioning” process, which outlined future research directions, but did not develop a traditional strategic plan. Since her arrival in 2016, NICHD Director Diana Bianchi has expressed an interest in developing a comprehensive strategic
read moreBalanced Budget Agreement Vote Fails in House, Waiting for Action in Senate
May 23, 2018
Talk of a balanced budget amendment (BBA) to the U.S. Constitution may seem insignificant to the concerns of scientists, but there are huge implications for science funding, as well as other government programs. In April, the U.S. House of Representatives held a vote on H.J. Res 2, which would require federal government expenditures in any year to be offset by revenues collected in that same year. It would also require a true majority of each chamber to pass tax increases and a
read moreCongress Holds Hearings to Examine the NIH Budget Request
May 23, 2018
On May 17, NIH Director Francis Collins testified before the Senate Labor, Health and Human and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, providing details about not only how the agency intends to spend its $3 billion increase in the remaining months of Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, but also discussing its FY 2019 outlook.
Dr. Collins took advantage of the hearing to announce NIH had suspended enrollment in a study on the health effects of moderate alcohol consumption. The study, which
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