Researchers preparing to meet and review grant proposals from academic scientists across the US received an email informing them that all Federal advisory committee meetings had been canceled. These committees, consisting of expert panels, play a crucial role in advising the government on regulatory decisions. With over 1,000 federal advisory committees overseen by the General Services Administration, the sudden cancellation has raised concerns within the scientific community.
The cancellation of these meetings, known as 'study sections,' has disrupted the government's scientific funding mechanism. Study sections are where grant proposals are evaluated by independent peer reviewers, with highly rated proposals advancing to institute councils at the National Institutes of Health for funding decisions.
The decision to cancel these meetings was attributed to a directive from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which has imposed a temporary pause on non-essential communications and public appearances. This pause aims to allow the new team to establish a review and prioritization process. Exceptions may be granted for announcements deemed mission critical by HHS divisions on a case-by-case basis.
Further communications revealed that federal advisory meetings were canceled until February 1, and National Institutes of Health-sponsored meetings were suspended indefinitely. The National Institutes of Health, being the largest funder of biomedical research globally, plays a vital role in supporting academic research in the US.
