Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Ave SW Washington, D.C. 20201

Dr. Matthew Memoli Acting Director National Institutes of Health 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Md. 20892

Re: NIH Advisory Councils and Study Sections

Dear Secretary Kennedy and Acting Director Memoli:

On behalf of the more than 37,000 members of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), I would like to express our concerns that appropriated federal research funds are being blocked from reaching grantees, stopping lifesaving research. We are particularly concerned that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Advisory Council meetings, scheduled for this past January, which must disburse money for already peer reviewed grants, have not yet met. In addition, NIH is currently unable to post notices to the Federal Register, resulting in the cancellation of meetings for the review of NIH grant applications. 

ASM strongly encourages the administration to remove the pause on Federal Register Notices and allow NIH delayed Councils and study sections to meet. This has enormous consequences for both ongoing studies, which may be irreparably harmed, and promising new research that cannot get started. Study sections and Councils are a vital and necessary step in funding biomedical research projects, ensuring that NIH-funded research is scientifically sound and rigorous and continuing successful ongoing studies. Our members have shared many stories about how they are in limbo regarding whether their research will be funded or not, despite their grant application receiving an outstanding score from a scientific panel of peers.

On behalf of ASM members who conduct lifesaving, NIH-funded research on bacteria, viruses, parasites and other microbes, we appreciate the administration’s interest in strengthening the NIH and look forward to working with you to advance biomedical research to support Americans’ health and well-being. Thank you for your attention to our concerns. If you have any questions, please contact Amalia Corby, Director of Federal Affairs at acorby@asmusa.org.

Thank you,

Stefano Bertuzzi, Ph.D., MPH
CEO, American Society for Microbiology