Basic Behavioral Science at NIH

Recent Congressional Letters

Leaders at the House and the Senate have taken NIH to task for failing to comply with Congressional requests to establish a basic behavioral research program at the National Institute of General Medical Science, and worked with NIH leadership on the establishment of the Basic Behavioral and Social Science Opportunity Network at NIH in 2010.

November 2009 Letter from Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) to Francis Collins, Director of NIH

October 2009 Letter from Francis Collins, Director of NIH to Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI)

September 2009 Letter from Francis Collins, Director of NIH to Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)

July 2009 Letter from Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Brian Baird (D-WA) and Tim Ryan (D-OH) to Francis Collins, Director of NIH

December 2008 Letter from Letter from Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) to Raynard Kington, Acting Director of NIH

November 2008 Letter from Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Brian Baird (D-WA) to Raynard Kington, Acting Director of NIH

September 2007 Letter from Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) to Elias Zerhouni, Director of NIH

September 2007 Letter from Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) to Elias Zerhouni, Director of NIH

October 2006 Letter from Representatives James Walsh (D-NY), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), James Leach (R-IA), and Brian Baird (D-WA) to Elias Zerhouni, Director of NIH

March 2006 Letter from Representatives James Walsh (D-NY), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), James Leach (R-IA), and Brian Baird (D-WA) to Elias Zerhouni, Director of NIH

March 2006 Letter from Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) to Elias Zerhouni, Director of NIH

Recent Observer Coverage

• November 2009, A New Era for Basic Behavioral Research at NIH
• November 2009, Basic Behavioral Research at NIH: A Timeline
• February 2009, APS Calls for Change in Behavioral Science at NIH
• March 2008, A Conversation with OPASI Director Alan Krensky
• September 2007, What They Would Have Said: APS Honors Patrick J. Kennedy
• September 2007, Acceptance of APS Award
• May 2006, Basic Behavioral Research in Flux at NIH
• May 2006, Basic Behavioral Science at NIH: A Chronology
• May 2006, NIMH Might Be (Partly) Right

Related Items

Transcript of House of Representatives FY 2010 appropriations hearing in which Representative Tim Ryan asks Acting NIH Director Raynard Kington about basic behavioral science research infrastructure.

Senators Support Behavioral Research at NIGMS
Senators Inouye, Specter, and Harkin vow to work together to see that basic behavioral research is supported by NIGMS.

Senators Unite for Behavioral Research at NIGMS
The actual text from the Senate colloquy as it appeared in the Congressional Record on September 10, 2003, Page S11332.

Excerpts from Senate Appropriations Reports FY 1999-2010
Sidebar to the text of the Senate colloquy, featuring language from Senate Appropriations Reports from Fiscal Years 1999-2010.

Excerpts from NIGMS Authorizing Statute
Sidebar to the text of the Senate colloquy, featuring language from NIGMS authorizing the research of behavioral science.

Report of the Working Group of the NIH Advisory Committee to the Director on Research Opportunities in the Basic Behavioral and Social Sciences
In 2004 the Working Group recommended a stable and secure home for basic behavioral research at a non disease- or lifestage-oriented institute at NIH.

NIH Basic Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Report to Congress
NIH’s May 2006 response to the Working Group’s recommendation.

The Working Group’s Analysis of the NIH Report
A majority of the Working Group takes issue with NIH’s response.