Biophysical Society Bulletin | November 2022

Public Affairs

BPS Comes Together to Support NIH at the Rally for Medical Research The 2022 Rally for Medical Research, the seminal advocacy event in support of medical research funding at the National Insti tutes of Health (NIH), occurred on September 14. The Rally puts a spotlight on the incredible research that the NIH funds and asks Congress to ensure robust, sustained, and predictable funding increases for the NIH in fiscal year 2023. This year, approx imately 250 scientists, physicians, and health research advocates from 30 states and the District of Columbia participated in more than 190 virtual meetings with senators, representatives, and their policy staff. The Biophysical Society was represented in both in-person meetings and through a grassroots campaign for those not able to join us in Washington, DC. BPS Announces Office Placements for First Dual Congressional Fellowship Year

“ensure that the evaluation process is fair, independent, ex pert, timely and free from inappropriate influences.” This plan delineates a framework comprising five overarching goals which include: (1) maintain scientific review groups that pro vide appropriate scientific coverage and review settings for all of NIH science; (2) further develop a large cadre of diverse, well-trained, and scientifically qualified experts to serve as reviewers; (3) further develop an outstanding, engaged, and diverse staff; (4) implement changes to the peer review process to make it more fair, effective, and efficient; and (5) achieve our mission through transparency, engagement with the scientific community, and a data-driven approach to decision making. Biden Launches Biotechnology Initiative US President Joe Biden issued an executive order on Septem ber 12 establishing the National Biotechnology and Bioman ufacturing Initiative, which aims to accelerate research and development, strengthen biosecurity, and bolster supply chains across the health, energy, agriculture, and industrial sectors. The White House also released a fact sheet (https:/ tinyurl.com/BiotechFactSheet) identifying actions already un derway at federal agencies, such as $1 billion the Department of Defense plans to spend over five years to support domestic biomanufacturing infrastructure (https:/ tinyurl.com/DoDBil lion). The Department of Energy also plans to expand fund ing for demonstrations of biorefinery technology capable of converting biomass to renewable fuels and chemicals.

For the first time ever, BPS will be sponsoring two Congres sional Fellows for the 2022–2023 fellowship year, Elmer Zapata-Mercado and Luyi Cheng . After completing an intensive orientation program, each fellowship candidate interviews and selects the offices they best match for skills, experi ence, and work portfolio. This year, both Zapata-Mercado and Cheng have elected to work in the United States Senate. Cheng will be spending her legislative year working on sci ence, energy, and climate issues with Senator Elizabeth War ren (D-MA), while Zapata-Mercado will focus on health and education issues in the office of Senator Chris Coons (D-DE). Learn more about the fellowship program at https:/www. biophysics.org/policy-advocacy/congressional-fellowship. The application deadline for the 2023–2024 Congressional Fellowship is December 9, 2022. NIH’s Center for Scientific Review Releases 2022–2027 Strategic Plan On September 22, the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Scientific Review (CSR), Noni Byrnes , announced the release of the CSR 2022–2027 Strategic Plan (http:/ tinyurl.com/CSRStrategic) with the primary goal to

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