national institutes of health - FASEB

FEDERAL FUNDING FOR BIOMEDICAL AND
RELATED LIFE SCIENCES RESEARCH
FY 2006
Recommendations for:
National Institutes of Health
National Science Foundation
United States Department of Agriculture
Department of Energy
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Department of Veterans Affairs
FEDERATION OF AMERICAN SOCIETIES FOR EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
The American Physiological Society
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
American Society for Investigative Pathology
American Society for Nutritional Sciences
The American Association of Immunologists
Biophysical Society
American Association of Anatomists
The Protein Society
American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
American Society for Clinical Investigation
The Endocrine Society
The American Society of Human Genetics
Society for Developmental Biology
Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities
American Peptide Society
Society for the Study of Reproduction
Teratology Society
Radiation Research Society
Society for Gynecologic Investigation
Environmental Mutagen Society
International Society for Computational Biology

Founded in 1912, the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) represents 22
biomedical research societies with a combined membership of more than 65,000 individual scientists and scholars,
making it the largest life science organizations in the United States. FASEB’s mission is to enhance the ability of
biomedical and life scientists to improve, through their research, the health, well-being and productivity of all people.
FASEB is a coalition of independent Member Societies that serves the interests of biomedical and life scientists,
particularly those related to pubic policy issues.
Federal funding for basic research generates fundamental knowledge necessary for improving the nation’s health and
its quality of life. While life science research most obviously leads to biomedical advances, without the underlying
understanding and technologies developed through research in mathematics, physics, chemistry and computer science,
the potential to utilize biological breakthroughs for medical progress would be significantly diminished. Our national
investment in basic research is one of our greatest opportunities to advance the health and well-being of the country.
Approved by the FASEB Public Affairs Executive Committee, 2005, 2004
Copyright ©2005 by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
On the Cover: Photos copyright Photodisc Inc. 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... i
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH ................................................................................................. 1
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION .................................................................................................. 7
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ..............................................................................11
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY .............................................................................................................15
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION ...................................................................19
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS .............................................................................................21
AGENCY REVIEW COMMITTEES AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................25

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
America’s federal science agencies are the envy
of the world, and the discoveries they have
funded have resulted in longer, healthier lives
for us all. However, we have entered an era of competing
priorities—we are a nation at war, struggling with debt,
and it would be easy to consider basic research a luxury
our nation can ill-afford. This would be a grave mistake.
Investment in science and research offers the greatest
promise for returns that will improve our citizens’ lives
and maintain our leadership role on the global stage. As
a result of improvements in engineering, information
technologies and the genomic revolution, we are
answering fundamental questions at an astounding and
unprecedented rate. The basic knowledge gleaned from
federal research investment will pave the way for
treatments and cures for grave diseases, technologies
to improve our quality of life and new industries to reenergize
our economy and sustain our workforce.
History has shown that it is imperative to maintain our
commitment to science and research regardless of
economic conditions. The technologies and medical
advancements that we take for granted are the fruits of
the strong tradition of supporting science in the United
States. Complacency in funding science now will not
only hinder the translation of research results previously
gained but will handicap us for years into the future.
Our nation is faced with an onslaught of challenges: a
rapidly aging population, evolving security threats,
emerging, infectious diseases and increasing competition
from the scientific enterprises of other countries, to name
just a few. Therefore it is critical to maintain our
investment in scientific research.
The Federation of American Societies for Experimental
Biology (FASEB) represents twenty-two scientific
societies made up of over 65,000 biomedical and life
science researchers. This report speaks with the voice
of the working scientist and attests to progress made,
knowledge gained and opportunities at-hand. These
recommendations, for six federal research agencies,
identify what is needed to spur the technological and
medical advancements that will contribute directly to
our economic prosperity, quality of life, health and
longevity.
Executive Summary
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
FASEB recommends an appropriation of $30.07
billion for NIH in FY 2006.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
FASEB recommends an appropriation of $6.4
billion for NSF in FY 2006.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
FASEB recommends an appropriation of $200
million for the National Research Initiative
Competitive Grants Program and for the creation
of a National Institute of Food and Agriculture
with a budget of $245 million for FY 2006.
Department of Energy (DOE)
FASEB recommends an appropriation of $4.15
billion for the DOE Office of Science in FY 2006.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA)
FASEB recommends that NASA receive resources
to increase support for peer-reviewed studies to
firmly establish the health risks of long-term space
flight, understand the mechanisms underlying these
health risks and develop appropriate
countermeasures to prevent or minimize those risks.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
FASEB recommends an appropriation of at least
$460 million for VA biomedical research in FY
2006. As a first step toward long-overdue
improvement in VA research infrastructure, we also
recommend $45 million for renovation, major
equipment and new research buildings.
i

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
MISSION
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the single
most important source of funding that drives advances
in basic biomedical research and clinical medicine. Over
the past fifty years, NIH research has transformed the
practice of medicine and made significant improvements
in the long-term health of our citizens. Even greater
benefits are possible in the next two decades if we are
positioned to capitalize on the many profound advances
in fundamental science.
Modern medical research is poised to revolutionize the
prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. These
opportunities coincide with urgent public health needs.
The baby-boom generation is graying; without more
effective strategies against chronic diseases, such as
osteoporosis, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases and
heart disease, the health care needs of this generation
will place enormous economic and social burdens on
their children and our nation. In addition, new and
emerging infectious diseases are a constant threat to
our society; without novel and improved methods for
predicting, detecting, controlling and preventing emerging
and re-emerging diseases, our nation will be ill-prepared
to respond to the major public health challenges of the
twenty-first century. Meeting all of these challenges with
improvements in patient care depends on continuous
scientific discovery, which will usher in a new age in the
practice of medicine.
NOVEL MEDICAL PRACTICE
MADE POSSIBLE BY NIH-FUNDED RESEARCH
The pace of advancement continues to accelerate such
that there are new treatments that substantially increase
the quality and length of life for a large number of
Americans. Most of these successes were only made
possible because of basic research and committed clinical
development. In this section, we highlight major
advances in prevention and treatment of heart disease,
infectious diseases, arthritis, cancer, obesity and
diabetes, mental illness, women’s diseases and agerelated
disorders. We point out how basic research is
benefiting Americans and increasing their longevity and
quality of life. At the same time, we indicate some of the
many areas of medicine that provide opportunities for
important advances in the future.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD). Without doubt, one
of the most important advances in human health for an
aging population has been the investigation and treatment
of CVD. Basic research identified the limiting step in
cholesterol biosynthesis, and this led directly to the
development of statins. These wonder drugs lower levels
of blood lipids, and they are remarkably effective in the
reduction of coronary events and death from coronary
heart disease. Without the basic research, drug
development for the treatment of hypercholesterol would
have languished for years.
Although important progress has been made, there is
need to understand the causes of CVD and find new
means of prevention. Studies published within the past
two years affirm that CVD is strongly affected by
inflammation and that the most reliable, early predictors
of disease are blood proteins that reflect chronic
inflammation such as C-reactive protein. Further
research into the prevention of dangerous inflammatory
responses promises to substantially reduce the major
cause of death in Americans.
Infectious diseases. Like human immunodeficiency
virus/AIDS, Ebola and West Nile virus, Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) reminds us that emerging
and re-emerging infectious diseases are constant threats
to national and international public health. In 2003,
SARS rapidly moved across the globe, becoming a
world-wide health emergency that resulted in
quarantines, travel warnings and mounting economic
damage. The ability of NIH to marshal its resources to
rapidly initiate development of diagnostics, therapeutics
and vaccines against SARS has positioned us well in
our quest for tools to detect, treat and prevent SARS.
Autoimmune diseases—rheumatoid arthritis and
inflammatory bowel disease. Debilitating autoimmune
diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, conservatively
affect 3% of all Americans. Basic research into
molecules that affect the immune response has led to
dramatic new drug therapies for some chronic
Consensus National Institutes Conference of Health Report 1

inflammatory diseases—offering virtually complete relief
and halting disease progression where other treatments
have failed. For example, tumor necrosis factor (TNF),
one of thirty cytokines characterized by scientists, is
important for the body’s response to infection but when
produced excessively, causes debilitating diseases. Using
this knowledge, new drugs, which block the action of
TNF, have proven highly successful in the treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and severe fusion of joints
and bones of the spine. Moreover, a recent study by a
consortium of NIH-supported researchers found that a
biologic drug, which blocks the cytokine interleukin-
12, was effective in treating the Crohn’s form of
inflammatory bowel disease. Research into cytokines
may also enhance an immune response, as demonstrated
by the treatment of viral hepatitis C. Administration of a
specific cytokine, in conjunction with a viral antibiotic,
can be effective in clearing the virus.
None of these treatments would have been possible
without the basic and applied research funded by NIH,
but they are just the beginning. The modulation of many
of the other cytokines, individually or in combination
therapies, holds tremendous promise for disease
treatment.
Cancer. Using monoclonal antibodies (mAb), scientists
have also identified the cell-surface receptors that
characterize many different cells of the body. These
same mAb can be chemically engineered for use as
biologic drugs in the treatment of many different diseases.
The mAb reagent that targets a lymphocyte receptor
has become a proven therapy for non-Hodgkin’s B cell
lymphoma; many patients remain disease-free for several
years after having failed chemotherapy. Based on more
recent clinical trials, this same drug may also be effective
in the treatment of several forms of autoimmune disease
including rheumatoid arthritis. Many other engineered
mAb are being tested in clinical trials for use as biologic
drugs, and again, more research is needed to identify
new disease targets.
The latest genetic technologies are also beginning to
deliver important tools for the treatment of cancer.
Recently, NIH-supported research has been used to
develop technologies where virtually the entire genome
can be studied on a small chip (DNA microarray). A
recent example of the promise of this technology comes
from the study of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, where
patients fall into two categories: those whose tumors
progress slowly and those with highly malignant tumors
that require aggressive therapy. Microarray analyses
identified the expression of a single gene that
discriminates these tumor types with a high degree of
accuracy. This has now led to a simple blood test to
determine tumor prognosis and guide therapy.
Microarray analyses will be used in the future to analyze
each individual cancer as a way of guiding highly
individualized therapies, and this will, in turn, result in a
new generation of highly effective treatments.
Vaccines. Vaccine research and development proceed
at a rapid pace using new tools from a variety of fields.
Hemophilus influenza type b is one of the leading causes
of invasive bacterial infection in young children worldwide.
The development of a vaccine for this disease
has dramatically decreased the incidence of pediatric
meningitis from approximately 20,000 to 200 cases per
year in the United States. The cost for treating this disease
and its complications was $500 million annually, whereas
the cost of vaccination is presently no more than $0.50
per patient. The development of this successful vaccine,
evolved naturally out of NIH-supported research in
basic immunology and many additional breakthroughs
are anticipated. For example, similar vaccines are being
tested to prevent pneumoccocal and meningococcal
infections that often result in pneumonia or meningitis.
New sequencing techniques, made possible from the
Human Genome Project, allow the rapid decoding of
genomes of bioterrorism threats as well as rapidly
mutating pathogens. Immunologists have created a
malaria vaccine that was made possible by genome
sequencing of the malaria parasite and its mosquito host,
and recent results in children show that this vaccine can
convey a 50% decline in infections. The genome
sequence of each pathogen facilitates the identification
of virulence factors, which in turn, constitute the best
targets for vaccination. For example, the creation of a
SARS DNA microarray chip, available from the National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will aid in
the rapid development of vaccines against this recently
identified pathogen. The complementary nature of basic
and clinical research is nowhere more apparent than in
the advantage that vaccine research takes of chemical
structures determined by X-ray crystallography. The
2 Federation of American Societies For Experimental Biology

ecent discovery of the three-dimensional structure of
the anthrax bacterium will speed development of novel
antitoxins to protect our populace against bioterrorism.
Thus, work on the horizon promises vaccines that will
confer resistance to previously uncontrollable infectious
agents.
Obesity and diabetes. The obesity epidemic continues
to rise. The projected health care requirements arising
from complications associated with excessive weight will
substantially expand the costs of Medicare and private
health insurance in an aging population. In response to
this crisis, NIH has increased funding in obesity research,
and this has led to an explosion of new information
concerning the regulation of metabolism and the causes
of pathogenesis. For example, two American NIHfunded
researchers and a Frenchman shared the 2004
Lasker Prize for their work on nuclear receptors and in
part, for the role these receptors play in insulin resistance
and metabolism of fat cells. This work holds great
promise for therapeutic intervention, as nuclear receptors
are easily targeted by modified versions of steroid
hormones. It is remarkable that some of the most incisive
work has come from basic studies using model
organisms, such as worms and flies, where genetic
screens have identified the essential metabolic
pathways.
Over the period of the NIH budget-doubling,
researchers have discovered previously unknown
hormones such as resistin and ghrelin. Resistin is a fat
cell-derived hormone, which in excess, causes problems
with carbohydrate metabolism, and this in turn can result
in diabetes. Ghrelin, along with leptin, has been found to
be important in the modulation of appetite. In another
area of metabolic research, we now understand the
molecular basis for trans fatty acid and saturated fatty
acid effects on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and
this has important implications in weight control and in
Cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Health care costs more than twice as much for diabetes
patients as for all other individuals. Eliminating or reducing
the health problems caused by diabetes could significantly
improve the quality of life for people with diabetes and
their families, and at the same time, potentially reduce
national expenditures for health care services and
increase productivity in the U.S. economy. These costs
will increase dramatically if the epidemic is allowed to
worsen. Indeed, it was recently predicted by the Centers
for Disease Control that one out of three children born
in the United States in the year 2000 will develop
diabetes in his or her lifetime.
Obesity affected forty-four million Americans as of
2001, an increase of 74% from 1991. Obesity is a major
risk factor for diabetes and is also associated with CVD
and cancer. The total cost attributable to obesity
amounted to $99.2 billion in 1995. Approximately $51.7
billion of those dollars were direct medical costs. The
number of restricted-activity days, bed-days, and worklost
days increased substantially between 1988 and
1994, and the number of physician visits attributed to
obesity increased 88% during the same period. 1 The
health-related economic cost of obesity to U.S. business
is substantial, representing approximately 5% of total
medical care costs. 2
Mental illness. There has been extraordinary progress
in the search for genes that increase one’s risk of
developing schizophrenia, depression and bipolar
disorder. In addition, there have been major advances
“unraveling” how the genes work in the brain to influence
vulnerability.
NIH-supported researchers have found that variants of
the serotonin transporter gene regulate the risk of
depression and anxiety. New medications developed
over the past decade plus improved behavioral therapies
have led to dramatically better treatments for depression.
This is just the beginning. Through human genetics and
continuing human genome studies, neuroscientists will
unravel the basis for pathologies associated with
memory, emotion, learning and behavior.
Women’s health. Recent work has demonstrated that
estrogen and related compounds reduce brain damage
from stroke in experimental animals. With these new
findings, it is extremely important that support for existing
and new research to resolve the controversy of safety
1
Obesity Research 1998, 6(2): 97–106.
2
American Journal of Health Promotion 1998, 13(2): 120–127.
Consensus National Institutes Conference of Health Report 3

and risks of hormone replacement therapy be continued
and increased. Such a resolution will have a wide impact
on women’s health concerns such as osteoporosis,
stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss.
Age-related disorders. We appear to be in the midst
of an epidemic of diseases that chiefly affects the aging
population and will have devastating impacts, socially
and financially. Examples include epidemics of dementia
and neurodegenerative disorders, infectious diseases,
cancer and cardiovascular disorders. Federal investment
in these areas is urgently needed and may yield
extraordinary returns. Left unsolved, we will face a huge
increase in health-related expenses as the population
ages and the prevalence of these conditions increases.
COMPETITIVE PEER REVIEW
Part of the success of American science derives directly
from the system for awarding research grants. The
majority of NIH funding comes in response to
investigator-initiated research proposals that are
evaluated by a committee of experts in each scientific
field. Elaborate care is taken to ensure that conflicts of
interest are minimized, and each research proposal is
evaluated on its merit. Over many years, this competitive
system has promoted the highest quality research, and
it is a shining example of a program based on “reward
for excellence.” No scientist can afford to rest on his or
her previous accomplishments. As opposed to the
entitlement system of funding found in some other
countries, the American system rewards productivity,
innovation and impact. Although FASEB welcomes new
ideas to make the system function even more efficiently,
we support the basic concept of peer review as practiced
by NIH.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING THE MOMENTUM
There has never been greater opportunity for advancing
biomedical science and generating more effective
practices for clinical medicine. Within our reach are
dramatic new breakthroughs that can lessen the
economic and human costs of disease.
In response to the massive amounts of new information
being generated in every field of biomedical science,
the NIH has recently developed a framework of
priorities, which NIH as a whole must address to
optimize its entire research portfolio. The NIH
Roadmap 3 identifies the most compelling opportunities
in three main areas and will promote a quantitative
understanding of the many interconnected networks of
molecules that comprise our cells and tissues, their
interactions and their regulation; explore new
organizational models for team science and foster largescale
epidemiological studies and clinical trials to
enhance the state of medical treatment and move new
therapies into practice. Specialized core facilities and
consortia are being promoted to bring together scientists
from different disciplines as a way of accelerating
discovery. FASEB supports the goals and vision of this
initiative, although we maintain that most novel discovery
and innovative research will continue to originate from
individual investigators. To maintain our rate of discovery
and build the infrastructure outlined in the Roadmap,
NIH requires adequate support for agency- and
investigator-initiated projects.
The momentum generated from doubling the NIH
budget has energized biomedical science at every level.
We see new, young investigators making some of the
most important discoveries. Training initiatives have
encouraged talented students to choose a career in
academic medicine. These highly talented and motivated
individuals spend ten years or more after college in
graduate school and postdoctoral appointments. In
2003, only 16.6% of new investigators obtained funding
within their first three years of applying for these critical
grants, thereby making it difficult for these young
scientists to establish their new innovative research
programs.
It is impossible to predict which cures and therapies
might be lost if funds for medical research are curtailed,
but it is certain that inconsistent NIH funding sends a
chilling message to young scientists in training and those
just entering the research field. Scientific competition
will always be intense, but exceptionally talented, young
scientists must be assured that sufficient research funding
will be available, or they will be forced to pursue
alternative careers.
3
NIH Roadmap, (http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/).
4 Federation of American Societies For Experimental Biology

RECOMMENDATION
We need to maintain the pace of discovery to provide
the new cures that the public demands. Every indicator,
from public opinion polls 4 to consumer behavior, 5
demonstrates that Americans want better health care
and are willing to pay the price to obtain it.
Fundamental research and large-scale studies, the keys
to providing better health care, are only possible with
public funding. Private investors are unwilling and illsuited
to support the broadly focused and high-risk
research needed to provide the knowledge that will give
rise to the next generation of drugs and diagnostic tools.
Our investment in research has paid substantial
dividends, and our research institutions are the envy of
the rest of the world. In the last two years, however, the
NIH budget has failed to keep up with inflation, and we
are in danger of squandering our nation’s dominance in
biomedical research and biotechnology. New
opportunities for path-breaking research are going
unfunded; the number of new therapies under
development has begun to decrease.
Even more threatening are the proposed decreases in
future funding for medical research. This forecast sends
the wrong message to aspiring young scientists. We run
the risk of discouraging our most talented young people
from pursing careers in biomedical research and
diminishing our ability to generate new cures and improve
health.
FASEB understands that the FY 2006 budget for
discretionary spending is projected to be constrained in
light of the large deficit, the expenditures for defense
and homeland security and the growth in entitlement
obligations. However, FASEB strongly believes that the
scientific opportunities for progress in medical research
have never been greater. The Department of Commerce
has projected that the cost of biomedical research will
rise by 3.5% in FY 2006. 6 Our analysis of current NIH
commitments and urgent needs indicated that NIH needs
at least a 6% increase to avoid curtailment of vital
programs. 7 Therefore, the following recommendation
is proposed.
FASEB recommends that the National
Institutes of Health receive $30.07 billion in
FY 2006, an increase of 6% over the level for
the previous fiscal year.
4
Research!America 2004 National Survey, (http://www.researchamerica.org/).
5
Monthly Labor Review, November 25, 2003.
6
NIH Office of Science Policy and Planning, (http://ospp.od.nih.gov/ecostudies/brdpi_fy2003.asp).
7
Science, 2002, 296: 1401–1402.
Consensus National Institutes Conference of Health Report 5

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
MISSION
For more than half a century, the National Science
Foundation (NSF) has served as our nation’s premier
sponsor of fundamental research and science education.
NSF invests in talent, ideas and tools that cross all
boundaries of scientific inquiry to produce new
discoveries and technologies that save lives, enhance
our economic productivity and increase our knowledge
and understanding of our world.
NSF receives less than 5% of the federal research and
development budget but takes a leading role promoting
progress in science and technology. Each year, NSF
awards grants to over 200,000 scientists, teachers and
student researchers for cutting-edge projects in science,
engineering and mathematics at thousands of educational
institutions across America. NSF education programs
build strong learning environments that develop the
domestic talent needed to maintain our science and
technology leadership and the societal benefits it confers.
Through its core programs, NSF supports the highest
quality, fundamental research in all major fields of science
and technology. This broad approach makes NSF
unique among sponsors of research and enables NSF
to play a critical role in fostering interdisciplinary
research, stimulating the flow of ideas across the
boundaries of individual fields. The ability of scientists
to share insights and perspectives across fields has
produced impressive breakthroughs and solutions for
perplexing research issues.
More so than any other time in our history, our nation is
turning to science and technology for solutions to our
most pressing problems such as enhanced public safety,
energy efficiency and environmental clean-up. To a large
degree, our economic prosperity and quality of life in
America are closely linked to innovation and our
command of new technologies, and these technologies
are the direct result of our investment in research. The
health and well-being of the nation are directly dependent
on our ability to combat new threats to our safety, be
they naturally occurring or intentional.
RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
NSF-sponsored research in science and technology has
resulted in discoveries that have changed the way
Americans live. The agency’s vital role in the
development of Internet technologies, magnetic
resonance imaging and supercomputing has improved
the quality of life for millions of people. Groundbreaking
work sponsored by NSF, including the research cited
in the 2004 Nobel Prizes for economics, physiology or
medicine and physics, is providing a source of insights
for a new generation of discoveries. Recent advances
by NSF-funded scientists are fueling innovations in many
areas of great importance to our nation.
Medicine. Basic science discoveries in retroviral
replication and cell invasion along with studies of
bacterial cell-wall structure could lead to new drugs
to fight AIDS and tuberculosis. In addition, doctors
fighting the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
epidemic at a quarantined hospital in Taiwan used
an NSF-supported communications grid to share
information with a world-wide network of medical
researchers.
Public safety. NSF-funded research has led to the
development of new nanoscale sensors and
cooperative robotic networks. These new devices
will allow emergency responders to assess situations
to better protect the public and themselves.
Agriculture. Scientists are making significant
progress in mapping the 50,000 genes in corn, the
nation’s most important crop. As they work, they’re
sharing information with public and private
researchers to develop improved traits in corn and
genetically similar crops such as wheat, barley, rice
and oats. They have also successfully engineered a
common enzyme in all higher plants to synthesize
resveratrol, the beneficial compound found in red
wine.
Geology and the environment. Researchers have
determined key signatures of tornado-spawning
weather patterns and the natural pollution-cleaning
Consensus National Science Conference Foundation Report 7

properties of forest-lined streams. The development
of artificial molecular pores could lead to advances
in fresh-water extraction from seawater, and the
design of high-heat capacity sensors has applicability
to automobile emission control. With access to
sophisticated facilities, researchers are able to
promote public safety by monitoring earthquake and
volcano activity.
noxious weeds will yield vital information leading to
advances in food production and added nutritional
benefits of crops.
Geology and the environment. Pilot development
of a fuel cell that runs on wastewater could be
expanded to production scale to help the
environment and produce energy.
Engineering and material science. New
nanomanufacturing techniques have been developed
that use biological materials (enzymes and nucleic
acids) to generate microcircuits. Pulsed lasers have
been used to produce nanodots of nickel, with
possible use in ultra-dense computer memory. To
enhance the ever-decreasing size of electronic
devices, miniature cooling devices have been
developed that are ten times smaller than those
currently available. New chip design takes
advantage of artificial molecules to facilitate quantum
computing.
SCIENTIFIC OPPORTUNITIES
Today’s advances in science and engineering are
powering tomorrow’s discoveries in every field of
scientific inquiry. Spectacular progress has created
unprecedented scientific opportunities for projects in
the core disciplines of science as well as in
interdisciplinary programs and projects supported by
the Foundation.
Medicine. Continued, broad-level support of
biology and bioengineering programs will have
valuable results in drug design and disease
prevention. Current research may result in
implantable, neurological sensors, protein
“switches” for biosensors and drug delivery and an
improved understanding of how proteins are
modified by drugs, disease and other factors.
Public safety. Support for networks to monitor the
spread of diseases and the development of biometric
sensors will aid in homeland security.
Agriculture. Continued support for genome
sequencing projects for important crop plants and
Engineering and material science. Continued
support of NSF’s Nanoscale Science and
Engineering Centers will lead to advances in sensor
development, drug delivery and computer chip
manufacturing.
The demand for NSF support has been growing at a
very rapid rate. In FY 2000, NSF received 29,508
proposals. By FY 2003, the number of requests for
funding exceeded 40,000 (an increase of over 33%).
Funds to support these research projects, however,
grew at a much slower rate. As a result, success rates
for applicants to NSF declined from 33% in FY 2000
to 24% in FY 2004, the lowest success rate in more
than 15 years. With the FY 2005 reduction in NSF
funding, this trend will likely worsen, leaving many highly
qualified projects unfunded.
As a result of slowed growth at NSF, some highly
successful programs are under-funded. The
Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive
Research (EPSCoR) establishes partnerships with state
governments, academic institutions and the private
sector to expand funding opportunities and promote the
research infrastructure in states that have not historically
been major recipients of federal grants. EPSCoR has
expanded the number of laboratories able to compete
for NSF funds and has been imitated by other research
sponsors. Many states, through their involvement in this
program, invest in small high-tech companies that
become more competitive for federal Small Business
Innovation Research funds. The initial EPSCoR
investment yields greater research support, creates new
employment opportunities, strengthens the states’
science and engineering pool and helps drive regional
innovation and prosperity. 1
1
The South Carolina EPSCoR program is an example of this, (http://www.scepscor.org/outreach/sbir/home.html).
8 Federation of American Societies For Experimental Biology

Figure 1. Increase in 24-Year Olds with Natural Science
or Engineering Degrees from 1975-2000
United States
Average of others
China
Mexico
Belgium
Norway
Italy
Switzerland
Germany
Canada
Netherlands
Japan
Spain
Ireland
Sweden
United Kingdom
South Korea
Taiwan
France
Finland
0 2 4 6 8 10
Fold increase over 25-year period
Creative and innovative scientific discoveries depend
on a steady infusion of new talent. NSF supports science
and engineering education—from kindergarten through
postdoctoral fellowship programs—needed to provide
adequate numbers of skilled personnel for our
technology-oriented economy. Efforts to improve
student performance in science and math have shown
positive results, and the science and math test scores of
eighth-grade students are rising. Some of the most
marked improvements are seen amongst Latino and
black students. 2 Although this is encouraging, U.S.
eighth-graders are still eighth among nations tested for
science comprehension, and our future leadership
demands that we produce a new generation of scientists
able to meet internationally competitive standards.
The growing demand for scientists and engineers is an
overall trend that shows no signs of abating. Moreover,
the average age of our science and engineering
workforce is rising, and the increase in the number of
students in most fields of science, especially U.S. citizens,
has slowed to roughly one-third of the average of other
industrialized and developing nations (Fig. 1). 3 It is critical
that we fill this void by promoting greater research
opportunities for undergraduate students, bolstering
science and technology education for students and
teachers and strengthening outreach to minority students
who represent a growing segment of our population but
an under-represented share of the scientific community.
2
Highlights from the Trends in International Mathematical and Science Study (TIMSS) 2003, U.S. Department of Education,
National Center for Education Statistics, 2004, (http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/timss03/).
3
2004 Science and Engineering Indicators, (http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/seind04/c3/c3s3.htm).
Consensus National Science Conference Foundation Report 9

RECOMMENDATION
Our technology-centered economy requires that we
continuously generate new knowledge that will stimulate
the next generation of innovation in product development,
design and manufacturing. The nation’s safety and
security likewise depend on our ability to identify, detect
and overcome new threats to the public’s well-being.
NSF programs have fueled our success in the knowledge
economy of the twenty-first century. We have reaped
tremendous benefits from our research investment, and
estimates show that the average economic rate of return
on basic research investments exceeds those that result
from any other ventures. 4 As competition from other
nations increases, we must, as a nation, protect the
advantages garnered from our historically strong support
of science.
NSF provides a successful model for replenishing our
supply of new scientific insights and technological
innovations. The Office of Management and Budget and
the Government Accountability Office have cited the
Foundation’s programs for their creativity, efficiency and
innovativeness. With the passing of the “NSF Doubling
Act of 2002”, Congress and the administration have
recognized the vital role of the NSF in sustaining our
national academic research enterprise, which is the “envy
of the world.” 5
Under the Doubling Act recommendations, NSF was
authorized at $7.38 billion for FY 2005 and $8.52 billion
in FY 2006. Although competing fiscal priorities have
prevented Congress from appropriating the funds
recommended in the authorization bill, actual reductions
in the NSF budget, as occurred in FY 2005, put the
pipeline for economic recovery and scientific discovery
at great risk. We reaffirm that the plan for significant
increases in the NSF budget will yield substantial
scientific, educational and economic benefit to the nation.
We look forward to a time when Congress can again
focus our national resources on this worthwhile and
necessary target. In the meantime, we suggest that the
FY 2004 funding level suggested in the Doubling Act
be appropriated, and therefore, we propose the
following recommendation.
FASEB recommends that Congress
appropriate $6.4 billion for NSF in FY 2006.
4
America’s Basic Research: Prosperity through Discovery: A Policy Statement, Research and Policy Committee of the Committee for
Economic Development, 1998, (http://www.ced.org/docs/report/report_basic.pdf).
5
National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002.
10 Federation of American Societies For Experimental Biology

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
MISSION
The National Research Initiative (NRI) within the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the nation’s
primary competitive, peer-reviewed research program
for agriculture. The grants funded by the NRI
Competitive Grants Program (NRICGP) lead to new
discoveries, focus research in new and high-priority
areas and contribute to the knowledge base that must
be available for continued progress of applied and
translational studies. NRI funds also provide essential
training opportunities for graduate students and
postdoctoral fellows (i.e., future agricultural scientists
and innovators).
Basic and applied research in agriculture establishes the
scientific foundation required to provide a safe, nutritious
food supply in a manner that conserves natural resources,
promotes sustainable yields, improves human health and
enhances the competitive position of U.S. agriculture in
the global marketplace. Agricultural research also plays
a critical role in homeland security, providing the essential
knowledge needed to protect our food and water supply
from natural or bioterrorist threats. As Tommy
Thompson, former Secretary of Health and Human
Services, recently said, “we have a ways to go” on
protecting our food supply.
RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Research supported by NRI increases the efficiency of
crop and livestock production, improves human and
animal health and nutrition and ensures food and water
safety. Recent accomplishments include the following.
Identification of two mechanisms by which the
body becomes immune to leptin, a hormone
produced by fat tissue. Leptin resistance is a
hallmark of human obesity, and knowledge of how
this immunity occurs may assist in the identification
of molecular targets for drug development, as well
as development of preventative and rehabilitative
treatment programs.
fold higher than the current recommended daily
allowance. Deficiency in vitamin B-12 is associated
with decreases in cognitive and auditory function.
Characterization of the prion proteins involved
in chronic wasting disease (CWD), the deer and
elk equivalent of “mad-cow disease,” which is
associated with development of Creutzfeldt-
Jakob disease in humans. An understanding of the
molecular properties of the abnormal prion protein
should facilitate better surveillance strategies for wild
animals and livestock and aid the assessment of the
potential risk of CWD in disease transmission.
Discovery of peptide-based vaccines as an
effective tool for use in emergency vaccination
of livestock against foot-and-mouth disease
virus.
Development of a pulse-field gel electrophoresis
method to allow rapid identification and tracing
of the source of pathogens associated with foodborne
contamination. This will enable investigators
to quickly trace the source of outbreaks of food
poisoning as a result of failure in sanitation
procedure, farm management practices or deliberate
contamination.
Design of a test that measures the ability of cattle
sperm to fertilize eggs. This allows not only
screening of low-fertility semen, which can
profoundly affect production levels in dairy cattle,
but also aids in identifying defects associated with
lower fertility, leading to development of appropriate
interventions to circumvent fertility-related problems.
Characterization of components in cranberry
juice, which inhibit bacteria from binding to the
cells that line the wall of the urinary tract. This
prevents onset of urinary tract infections, which
account for more than eleven million doctor visits
per year in the United States.
Elucidation of the vitamin B-12 requirement of
elderly citizens, which turns out to be several-
Identification of a connection between avian
infection bronchitis virus and low fertility in
Consensus United States Conference Department Report of Agriculture
11

oosters. This leads to a better understanding of
avian reproductive physiology, which will indicate
whether development of new vaccines is necessary
to enhance fertility in the broiler industry.
SCIENTIFIC OPPORTUNITIES
Greater investment in basic and applied agricultural
research is critical, as the demand for a safer and more
nutritious food supply continues to increase. Below are
some areas of current scientific opportunity that could
greatly benefit from additional federal investment.
Nutrition and obesity. Obesity among adults and
children has increased to epidemic proportions over the
past two decades. This is despite a national health
objective to reduce the prevalence of obesity and to
decrease the proportion of children who are overweight
or at risk of being overweight. The total annual cost of
obesity for 2001 is estimated at $123 billion, rising from
$117 billion the previous year. However, despite intense
focus of the problem through innovative programs
developed by the Cooperative State Research,
Education and Extension Service at USDA, research
strongly suggests that the situation is worsening. Through
the Partnership Obesity Prevention Initiative (POPI), a
cooperative venture between USDA and universities
nationwide, NRI-funded research may lead to a better
understanding of the genetic and metabolic factors
associated with obesity, as well as identifying factors
governing interaction of nutrition and food-related
behaviors. In food science research, there are boundless
opportunities related to new or genetically modified foods
with increased health benefits. Unique obesityintervention
projects are being carried out in some highrisk
communities, including Native American
reservations, African American communities in the South
and rural towns in three Western states. Such programs
have proven successful, but further research dollars are
needed to move forward and expand. Most of the
promising areas of research have been identified through
POPI; there is now a great need for sufficient funding to
accomplish the goals of the program. The USDA,
including the NRI, is uniquely suited to deal with the
most likely solutions to the problem of obesity, with its
focus on prevention and its ability to address the total
food system.
Expected outcomes of the NRI segment of POPI are
increased understanding of appropriate dietary practices
and the factors that affect nutritional needs, focusing on
basic metabolism; expanded knowledge that aids in the
development of highly nutritious, affordable foods with
superior sensory attributes and the identification and
development of areas of science and technology that
could have an impact on obesity prevention. 1
Agricultural biosecurity. The primary goal of any
successful agricultural biosecurity program is to prevent
entry of a pathogen or pest species into a susceptible
population of plants or animals. If preventative measures
fail, it is imperative to have early detection, rapid and
accurate assessment and immediate implementation of
various interventions that prevent spread, control
infection and then begin the recovery phase. The current
scientific status of diagnostic methods for plants or
animals does not meet these criteria for many pathogens
or pests. Accelerated, specific and low-cost diagnostic
methods are still a rarity in agriculture (compared with
those available for human health problems). The NRI is
uniquely suited to develop the knowledge and expertise
required to ensure biosecurity of agricultural and rural
communities and to secure and safeguard the food supply
as well as the water supply. Increased funding in this
area will result in technologies helpful in controlling
diseases or pests.
Expected outcomes of additional support for agricultural
security include a rapid, on-site diagnostic to detect new
diseases and pests; reduced use of antibiotics and
replacement with new treatment modalities; reduced
pesticide chemical use and new biocontrol systems for
plant diseases new and more effective vaccines for
animals; increased ability to trace the origin of the pest
or disease and informed communities that assist in
surveillance and detection of pests or diseases. All of
these outcomes will promote enhanced safety and
security of the food supply.
Genomic and molecular research. Genomics
(including genome sequencing, functional genomics and
bioinformatics) provide a basis for examining biological
phenomena in ways that were not possible previously.
Continued development of this technology holds great
1
POPI White Paper, (http://www.csrees.usda.gov/newsroom/white_papers/obesity_Aug04.pdf).
12 Federation of American Societies For Experimental Biology

potential for solving production problems in agriculture
and increasing our ability to defend the nation’s food
supply from the introduction of diseases or pests. There
is a fundamental need to sequence the genomes of animals
and plants as well as the pathogens and pests that interact
with these organisms to establish the foundation of
knowledge needed to advance agricultural technologies.
Apart from model species, the genomes of very few
agriculturally relevant organisms have been sequenced.
Additional studies of functional genomics and proteomics
are critical to providing specific information that can be
used to manipulate the physiology of the plant or animal
to enhance production efficiency, provide protection
from disease and alter nutrient composition of food
products. Furthermore, this information can be used to
develop new and improved diagnostic techniques and
preventative and control strategies such as vaccines and
biocontrol agents. Increased funding in this area will raise
agricultural genomics to the same level as counterparts
in medicine and energy.
Expected outcomes of additional support for agricultural
genomics include development of genomic tools such
as physical and comparative genetic maps, along with
draft and finished genome sequences for agriculturally
relevant animals, plants and microorganisms; expanded
repositories and availability of genetic stocks; increased
knowledge of gene structure and function of biological
processes in agriculturally important species;
standardized data management and bioinformatics
analytical capabilities; education and outreach efforts
to producers, consumers and the public and a more
efficient and sustainable food and agricultural system.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Fundamental research in agriculture establishes the
scientific basis required to provide a safe, nutritious food
supply in a manner that reduces environmental pollution,
promotes sustainable production, improves human
health and promotes the competitive position of U.S.
agriculture internationally. A National Institute of Food
and Agriculture, recently proposed by the USDA task
force on this topic, would establish a structure to support
high-quality, basic research, allowing advancement of
current knowledge and enhancing the superiority of
American agriculture.
Establishment of a National Institute of Food and
Agriculture with a program of competitive/peerreviewed
grants directed toward fundamental agricultural
research would significantly enhance and improve the
research efforts of the USDA; attract talented scientists
who are not currently funded by the Agricultural
Research Service, formula funds, NRI or special grants
and provide the expansion of the science base, which is
needed to solve critical research problems.
Higher education. Training students in the agricultural
sciences is critical if the United States is to maintain its
leadership position in an increasingly competitive, global
food and agriculture industry. Unfortunately, the number
of doctorates awarded in agricultural sciences to U.S.
citizens has decreased significantly in recent years
(Fig. 1). 1 The National Needs Graduate Fellowships
program (NNGF) trains world-class researchers who
can interact effectively with agricultural producers and
consumers. This program allows institutions to recruit
outstanding graduate students in targeted areas of
research, including plant and animal biotechnology,
agricultural engineering and food science or human
nutrition. Despite its importance, this program is funded
at low levels, allowing only a fraction of the qualified
Ph.D. applicants to be supported. The decreasing pool
of young scientists with backgrounds in agriculture and
the critical need to recruit and train the next generation
of agricultural researchers make it imperative that this
program be supported adequately.
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Figure 1. Number of Agriculture Ph.D.s
Earned by U.S. Citizenes
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
1
Source: National Science Foundation, Survey of Earned Doctorates, 2003.
Consensus United States Conference Department Report of Agriculture
13

The expected outcome of additional support of NNGF
is the assurance of a high-quality pool of talented
researchers. This would allow expansion of this program
to provide short-term opportunities for postdoctoral
fellows and young faculty to work in USDA laboratories
to enhance collaboration and interdisciplinary research.
Facilities and administrative (F&A) costs. Cuttingedge
research requires substantial investment in buildings
and instrumentation. USDA provides partial
reimbursements for these research costs as part of the
research grant. Currently, the congressionally mandated
cap of 20% for F&A costs results in a significant
disincentive for many university faculty to seek USDA
funding. Furthermore, an insufficient facilities
reimbursement significantly impairs the ability of
universities to meet their fixed obligations and prevents
them from investing in needed facilities.
FASEB urges that the USDA indirect cost rate be raised
and made commensurate with the rate used by other
federal agencies. Without such an increase, the expected
outcome is grim. The best and the brightest scientists in
the United States will be deterred from agricultural
research to the detriment of producers and consumers.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Greater investment in basic and applied agricultural
research is critical, as the demand for a safe and more
nutritious food supply continues to increase. NRICGP
has a unique mission within the USDA: to fund
investigator-initiated, fundamental and applied research
related to agriculture through a competitive, peerreviewed
system. Unfortunately, NRICGP has been
underfunded since it was created by the 1990 Food,
Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act, with an
authorized annual expenditure of $500 million. This
limitation in funding also constrains the size and duration
of essential research projects. As a consequence, the
number of applications in several NRI areas has
decreased in recent years, and FASEB is concerned
that life-science researchers are directing their efforts
away from agricultural needs. In FY 2003, less than
19% of all submitted projects were funded. This success
rate is expected to decline in FY 2004 to approximately
15%, leaving substantial numbers of highly qualified
research proposals unfunded. To achieve scientific
progress in agriculture, it is crucial that investigators are
not discouraged from these critical areas of research.
FASEB strongly supports funding the National
Research Initiative Competitive Grants
Program in FY 2006 at the $200 million level
recommended in the President’s FY 2004
budget; this would be an important step forward
in reaching its initial authorization level of $500
million.
The task force created by Congress to review the
research efforts of USDA, identify needs, recommend
solutions and report to the appropriate House and Senate
committees has recommended the establishment of a new
research-granting mechanism within USDA: the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture. The task force
recommends an initial appropriation of $245 million,
increasing to $966 million at the end of the fifth year.
FASEB urges Congress to enact the
recommendations of the USDA task force and
create a National Institute of Food and
Agriculture with a budget of $245 million for
FY 2006.
14 Federation of American Societies For Experimental Biology

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
MISSION
The mission of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office
of Science is to deliver the remarkable discoveries and
scientific tools that transform our understanding of energy
and matter and advance the national economic and
energy security of the United States. Supporting research
at over 280 universities and sixteen national laboratories,
the Office of Science leads the United States in support
for physical sciences research and makes major
contributions to the material sciences, homeland security,
chemistry, high-energy and nuclear physics, plasma
science, biology, advanced computation and
environmental sciences. The diversity of scientific
disciplines that the DOE brings together is one of the
strengths of the Office of Science.
The Office of Science is world-renowned for its research
facilities. These are the sites of advanced research that
keep the United States on the forefront of scientific
discovery and innovation. Each year, more than 18,000
researchers from universities, other government agencies
and private industry use these resources. The emphasis
on interdisciplinary research at these state-of-the-art
facilities gives the DOE a unique role, allowing it to
support and extend basic research sponsored by other
federal agencies.
RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The research investments of the Office of Science have
fostered major technological innovations, medical and
health advances and economic competitiveness.
Economists estimate that innovation accounts for onehalf
of the U.S. gross domestic product growth during
the last fifty years. 1 Since 1979, DOE has supported
the work of more than forty Nobel Prize winners.
Representative and noteworthy results are described
here to illustrate the range of scientific achievements
fostered by DOE.
Synthetic genome. DOE-funded researchers have
achieved a significant scientific advance in their
efforts to piece together DNA strands. This ability
will allow the design of microbes, which live within
the emission-control systems of coal-fired plants,
to consume air-borne pollutants and carbon dioxide.
Man-made microbes may also radically reduce
water pollution and reduce the toxic effects of
radioactive waste.
Premature aging. Telomerase is an enzyme critical
to the replication of telomeres, which are located at
the tips of the chromosomes that contain a cell’s
genetic information. Telomeres require a replication
mechanism distinct from that of the rest the
chromosome, as they progressively shorten over a
lifespan. This is thought to be one of several defenses
against tumors and cancer. Researchers report that
low-telomerase mice suffer premature aging and so
mimic a known human-inherited disorder that causes
premature aging. This insight is one of many achieved
by the Office of Science-funded researchers who
use the mouse as a model for inherited genetic
diseases.
Low-dose radiation. The DOE Low Dose
Radiation Research Program funds basic research
to determine the responses induced by exposure to
low doses of radiation. It has long been known that
ionizing radiation, which can be found in a wide range
of occupational settings including health care
facilities, research institutions and nuclear reactors,
can lead to breast cancer by causing genetic
mutations. Recent investigations have revealed that
this is not the only damage done. DOE-funded
research has shown that exposure to ionizing
radiation also acts as a carcinogen by affecting the
cell proteins responsible for cell-to-cell
communication and cellular structure. Thus,
exposure may result in breast or other types of
cancer, even when genetic mutations cannot be
detected, and this damage can be passed on to
subsequent generations of cells, amplifying the
damage. Understanding the fundamental cell biology
1
America’s Basic Research: Prosperity through Discovery: A Policy Statement, Research and Policy Committee of the
Committee for Economic Development, 1998, (http://www.ced.org/docs/report/report_basic.pdf).
Consensus Department Conference of Energy Report 15

of radiation exposure allows development of
treatments and protections against low-dose
radiation.
Bioremediation. An enzyme from a unique microbe
found in a hot spring in Yellowstone National Park
breaks down hydrogen peroxide. This discovery
has important applications for several U.S. industries.
Hydrogen peroxide is used in the textile and pulp
and paper industries as an alternative to toxic,
carcinogenic chlorine bleaching. In the food industry,
the antimicrobial properties of hydrogen peroxide
are used for pasteurization and sterilization. The
newly discovered enzyme is stable for days under
high-temperature condition, whereas currently
available products are stable for only minutes to
hours.
Homeland security. Scientists at the Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory have applied their
experience in indoor air-quality and buildingventilation
research to create a simple kit for use by
occupants and first responders at a building site that
may have been attacked using chemical and
biological agents. This kit makes it possible to
determine where the greatest exposure is most likely
to occur and where the contamination is likely to
spread over time. This work resulted from extensive
simulations and experiments to verify the simulations.
Additional work has been done on methods to
quickly analyze and report sensor data to provide
information on where such materials are released
so that proper response actions can be taken.
Production of hydrogen fuel from coal. With
research support from DOE, a hydrogen transport
membrane has been developed that may advance
the hydrogen economy by allowing economical and
environmentally friendly production of pure hydrogen
gas. It has the potential to separate hydrogen from
coal-gas streams and operates at the high
temperatures and pressures required by such
processes as coal gasification and methane
reforming.
Switchable mirrors. Transition metal-switchable
mirrors are made by coating a glass surface with a
thin film made from an alloy of magnesium and one
or more additional metals. These films enable the
coated glass to be reversibly converted from a
reflecting to a transparent surface. A window using
this technology can be programmed to respond to
local sunlight and weather conditions; in this way,
the new technology could save one-fourth or more
of the energy lost through windows, saving more
than $33 billion a year. Besides windows for offices
and homes, possible applications include signs and
displays and aircraft windows.
SCIENTIFIC OPPORTUNITIES
The Office of Science is committed to remaining at the
forefront of major new scientific discoveries and
continues to embark on many important and promising
pursuits. Because of its cutting-edge resources, the
Office of Science is uniquely positioned to facilitate
discoveries that occur at the boundaries of multiple
disciplines. These breakthroughs, in fields as diverse as
environmental science, computer science and genomics,
will be of critical importance to the United States and
the world in the coming decades. Some of the exciting
opportunities are described below.
Chemical and biological nanoscale innovations.
Newly developed technologies in the emerging field of
nanoscience (science at the nanometer scale) are
bridging the biological and physical sciences to
investigate the dynamic mechanisms of living systems.
DOE research support is critical to continued progress
in this area.
16 Federation of American Societies For Experimental Biology
The magnitudes of the physical forces exerted upon
individual biological molecules inside living cells are
being measured using optical tweezers and scanning
force spectroscopy. Quantitative information about
these forces in dynamic cellular systems will assist
scientists in the development of robust
biomechanical complexes.
Chemical and biological synthesis tools are being
developed to fabricate a variety of molecular
complexes for use in elucidating design rules and
strategies for interfacing living and nonliving systems.
Research in this area will identify approaches for
designing specialized cell-surface sensors and
synthetic membrane systems. This work will enable
the development of a whole new generation of

iosensors with unprecedented sensitivity and
reliability. Such devices could be used to detect bioterror
pathogens in real time.
Medical applications. The unique expertise of DOE in
computational modeling, detector development,
multimodal spectroscopy, high-field magnet
development and microelectronics is being used in a
variety of areas that will directly improve health care in
the United States.
DOE-sponsored research is developing positron
emission tomography and magnetic resonance
imaging instruments, which will enable physicians
to study brain function in alert individuals, a capability
that will be especially important with infants or
patients with movement disorders. Today, these
patients must be anesthetized prior to imaging,
essentially putting them into a comatose state that is
not ideal for measuring brain function.
DOE has committed substantial funding to a
research consortium of five national laboratories, a
private company and three universities with the goal
of restoring vision to millions of people with
blindness caused by retinal disorders.
Microelectrode arrays implanted into blind patients
have already yielded remarkable results, enabling
blind patients to see light and dark and distinguish
the shapes of large objects such as doorways. A
key challenge is to increase the density of the
microelectrodes in the array so that recipients of
this device can read large print and see well enough
to navigate unassisted.
Research facilities. The research facilities of DOE are
the “crown jewels” of U.S. research and are critical to
scientists from a broad array of fields.
The resource for X-ray tomography of whole cells
at the advanced light source will enable biologists
to study subcellular structures in bacteria as well as
human cells. This resource will provide pictures of
the organization of essential components of cells,
which will lead to better understanding of functions
relevant to environmental, energy and medical
research.
The genomics program of DOE has proposed a
series of four facilities that will enable scientists to
capitalize on new genome information. These
facilities will mass-produce and characterize tens
of thousands of microbial proteins and molecular
tags for those proteins per year. They will also
provide resources to isolate, characterize and create
images of thousands of microbial multiprotein
complexes and permit the study of how microbes
and microbial communities function.
RECOMMENDATION
The unique, interdisciplinary expertise and unparalleled
research facilities of the Office of Science merit
significantly increased funding. With this support and
guided by the strategic plan released in February 2004,
the Office of Science will be able to address major
scientific challenges such as restoring U.S. leadership in
scientific computing, developing clean energy sources
and bolstering science education and training.
The DOE Office of Science has been flat-funded (in
constant dollars) for more than a decade, and the cost
of conducting research continues to increase at a faster
rate than inflation. A significant increase in DOE funding
is essential to ensure the development of necessary
collaborations among physical, chemical, engineering
and biological scientists and to preserve the vitality of
our national research enterprise. In keeping with the
“Energy Policy Act of 2003”, the following is proposed.
FASEB recommends an appropriation of $4.15
billion for the Department of Energy’s Office
of Science in FY 2006.
Consensus Department Conference of Energy Report 17

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
MISSION
The mission of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) is to develop and communicate
scientific knowledge of the Earth and the universe and
to use the space environment for research. In the past,
NASA has funded basic as well as applied biological
research into the effects of gravity, radiation and space
flight on the development and function of biological
systems/organisms, as well as investigations of the origin,
evolution and distribution of life throughout the universe.
These programs have involved scientists working within
the agency as well as funding to researchers in other
organizations across the country.
During the past year, NASA has focused its mission on
human and robotic exploration beyond low Earth orbit
and has reorganized its administrative structure to
implement more effectively its vision for space
exploration. To this end, NASA has established the
Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) to
develop the capacity for, and implementation of, robotic
and human exploration of the Moon, to be followed
eventually by travel to Mars. At the same time, NASA
merged its Office of Biological and Physical Research
(OBPR) into ESMD, which will now be responsible
for all biological and biomedical research related to
human space exploration.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
NASA, through OBPR, has been a leader in the study
of microgravity on human physiology. The ultimate
objective of this research is to ensure the health and
safety of humans in space, develop countermeasures
that allow humans to live and work in microgravity and
minimize risks of readaptation to Earth’s gravity.
Research at OBPR has made significant progress toward
identifying and solving some of the risks of space travel.
OBPR research has shown that microgravity causes
deterioration of bone and muscles and changes in the
nervous system and neuromuscular function. Long-term
exposure to microgravity was found to increase the
likelihood of cardiac arrhythmias, and the heavy ion
radiation that is found in spaceflight was also shown to
be deleterious to human health and development.
Additionally, research on weightlessness in space has a
profound impact on humans living on Earth. For
example, osteoporosis and low bone mass are currently
estimated to be a major health threat for almost fortyfour
million U.S. women and men aged fifty and over.
NASA-funded research directed toward understanding
the mechanisms associated with accelerated bone loss
in zero gravity is useful in treating and preventing this
disorder on Earth. Other examples include investigations
of mechanisms underlying the spaceflight anemia in
astronauts, their altered feeding behavior and their
muscle deterioration, all of which are contributing to
our insight into the regulatory mechanisms involved in
these complex physiological functions and are applicable
to analogous disorders occurring on Earth.
REQUIRED RESEARCH
As NASA prepares for future exploration missions with
long-term human presence in space, it is important to
assure the health and safety of space travelers. Presently,
we do not have the prescriptions for the appropriate
countermeasures to protect crews in low Earth orbit
for extended periods. Dysfunction in bone and muscle,
cardiovascular, neurological and immune systems, energy
balance and numerous other areas of physiology and
behavior is well-documented. New risks will be
encountered as humans leave low Earth orbit and
experience increased exposure to the space radiation
environment and long-term isolation.
Extended periods in microgravity challenge human
physiology in many ways. Life-science research
programs focusing on the prediction, assessment and
remediation of microgravity effects are essential for
ensuring health during extended human space flights.
The goals of this research should include a detailed
understanding of cell, tissue and organ homeostasis, with
particular emphasis on the deterioration and regeneration
of bone and muscle, as well as cardiac damage and
arrhythmia.
Prolonged space flight poses unique health hazards to
female astronauts who represent a significant proportion
Consensus National Aeronautics Conference and Report Space Administration
19

of the U.S. astronaut corps. Yet, sex differences in the
reproductive, somatic and mental health impacts of the
harsh environments encountered during deep space
travel have not been assessed adequately. Further
research is required in a number of areas including the
sex-specific effects of weightlessness on the
development of osteoporosis and skeletal musclewasting
and the sex-specific effects of prolonged space
flight on orthostatic intolerance, ventricular dysrhythmias
and vascular remodeling.
RECOMMENDATION
The ongoing status of the reorganization taking place at
NASA makes it impossible for us to specify at this time
the exact funding levels required by the newly
reconfigured OBPR to reach these goals. We will
examine the new EMSD programs carefully and make
more precise recommendations as the new organization
develops. However, this much is absolutely clear: If
extended space travel is part of NASA’s mission, then
a robust life sciences research program must be
undertaken to ensure the health and well-being of humans
in space.
FASEB recommends that NASA receive
resources to increase support for peerreviewed
studies to firmly establish the health
risks of long-term space flight, understand the
mechanisms underlying these health risks and
develop appropriate countermeasures to
prevent or minimize those risks.
20 Federation of American Societies For Experimental Biology

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
MISSION
A fundamental responsibility of the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) is to ensure that the nation’s
veterans receive the highest quality of medical care. The
success of this mission is dependent on the quality and
dedication of the physicians and researchers who work
at VA centers and hospitals. Only by providing a strong
environment for medical research can the VA attract
the outstanding physicians needed to fulfill its tri-fold
obligation to provide optimal care to patients, perform
cutting-edge research and train the next generation of
clinician-scientists.
IMPORTANCE OF FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH
TO THE CLINICAL MISSION OF THE VA
The VA research program is required to maintain a
talented physician-scientist base and stimulate the
intellectual climate necessary to provide cutting-edge
clinical care for our veteran population. Nearly 70% of
VA investigators are clinicians who treat veterans on a
daily basis; the other 30% are Ph.D. investigators who
support the VA research and patient-care efforts.
Cooperation between medical schools and VA medical
centers (VAMCs), which brings intellectual resources
and training opportunities to VAMCs, flourishes because
of the ongoing, state-of-the-art scientific research.
Outstanding quality patient care in VAMCs can be
directly correlated with the availability of VA research
funding and the close relationships with affiliated medical
schools. This creates a synergistic environment that
provides the best possible care for our veterans. VA
research has underwritten the recruitment and the
retention of talented physicians, including the hard-toattract
sub-specialists necessary to care for the
challenging and aging patient population. VA subspecialists
are frequently researchers who have chosen
to locate at VAMCs, where they have more opportunity
to engage in research that will improve patient care.
Without state-of-the-art resources to promote research,
the VA would never have been able to attract many of
its best clinicians.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
During the past ten years, unprecedented progress has
been made in the diagnosis and treatment of most major
medical disorders. This progress is directly attributable
to advances in basic understanding of biology and has
substantially improved longevity and quality of life. The
speed with which basic science advances are translated
into improvements in patient care has been accelerating
rapidly. In addition to advances in the diagnosis and
treatment of problems that affect all categories of
patients, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis
and degenerative diseases, VA researchers have made
basic research advances critical to progress in diagnosing
and treating medical conditions that are particularly
associated with our veteran population. These include
but are not limited to the following.
Brain and spinal cord injury, amputation and
prosthetics. The current conflicts in Iraq and
Afghanistan provide daily reminders of the need to
provide a rehabilitation program charged with
returning America’s disabled veterans to the highest
possible functioning status. Basic research pioneered
by VA investigators has allowed cells to be grown
in culture that can repair defects in injured and
abnormal nerves and has enhanced the mobility,
bowel and bladder function and independence of
patients with spinal cord injuries. VA researchers
have led studies exploring preventive care for
diabetic patients at risk for amputation, measuring
the efficacy of prosthetic interventions such as the
C-Leg computerized knee and developing survey
instruments to identify barriers to achieving a higher
quality of life. These studies resulted in improved
protocols for diabetic care that reduced the risk of
amputation by 43% from 1999 to 2003.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The
stresses of combat make PTSD a particular problem
for VA patients. VA researchers have been
instrumental in the basic and translational research
that has led to improvements in the treatment of
patients with this disorder. The Food and Drug
Consensus Department Conference of Veterans Affairs Report 21

Administration (FDA) approved two selective
serotonin re-uptake inhibitors as safe and effective
treatments for PTSD. These agents, in combination
with cognitive behavioral therapy, provide the most
effective therapy to date for this disorder. Basic
research conducted by VA researchers has
contributed to state-of-the-art treatment for PTSD
by revealing the mechanisms involved in the
transmission of nerve impulses and in the brain
circuitry that processes stressful and threatening
information.
Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C occurs with an increased
frequency in VA patients. VA researchers have
identified how alcohol and hepatitis C interact to
produce particularly threatening liver destruction.
They contributed to studies, which established
interferon-α/riboviran as the current standard of
care for hepatitis C. The discovery by a VA
investigator that the hepatitis C virus uses the lowdensity
lipoprotein receptor to infect cells has
provided an important, new target for the
development of a hepatitis C vaccine. VA
researchers have also studied the interactions
between hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency
virus and are investigating approaches to therapy
for patients who are infected with both viruses.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
asthma and lung cancer. Nearly one-fifth of VA
patients have COPD, 5% have asthma, and lung
cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among
veterans and nonveterans in the United States. VAsupported
basic studies of nerve cell receptors and
the physiology of tobacco addiction allowed
development of treatments that make it easier to
stop smoking cigarettes, the most important cause
of COPD and lung cancer. Basic research by VA
investigators has improved the treatment of many
patients with asthma. For example, improved inhaled
steroid preparations developed as a result of particle
science studies, leukotriene receptor antagonists
developed from studies of prostaglandin metabolites
and mediator receptors and anti-immunogloblin E
antibodies developed from studies of antibodyinduced
mast cell degranulation. Basic studies of
growth factor receptor signaling led to the
development of Irresa, a promising, targeted therapy
for the treatment of lung cancer. VA basic and clinical
investigators have contributed to all of these
advances.
Alcohol and drug addiction. Problems with alcohol
and drug addiction are more common in veterans
than in the general population. Consequently, VA
has the largest addiction treatment network in the
world and has been responsible for some of the
most important research advances. Brain imaging
studies at VA demonstrated neural structure
involvement in addiction and formed the basis of
the current, generally accepted concept of addiction
as a neurological disorder. Animal studies
performed by VA researchers identified the
endogenous opioid system in alcoholism and led to
the first clinical trials of an opioid receptor blocker,
Naltrexone, for the treatment of alcoholism. This
drug is now FDA-approved and used throughout
the world for this purpose. Studies by VA
investigators also contributed to the development
and use of approved drugs for the treatment of
heroin, cocaine and tobacco addiction. In addition,
VA investigators developed modes of intensive
outpatient treatment for alcohol detoxification and
treatment for drug addiction and demonstrated their
efficacy and cost-effectiveness.
Osteoporosis. Hip and spine fractures related to
osteoporosis have become an increasingly
important problem for elderly World War II and
Korean War-era veterans. Basic research studies
of bone loss led to the development of
bisphosphonates, which appreciably reduce the
incidence of these fractures. However, studies in
VA and other medical centers revealed that many
men with osteoporosis have a primary problem with
new bone production, which does not respond to
drugs that simply prevent bone loss. This
observation was instrumental in identifying a potent,
new drug, Forteo, which stimulates the production
of new bone that replaces lost bone, as an important
therapy for male osteoporosis.
22 Federation of American Societies For Experimental Biology

SCIENTIFIC OPPORTUNITIES
Just as advances in our basic understanding of biology
have been a prerequisite for these advances in the
treatment of veteran-associated disorders, basic
research will be required for future progress in these
same areas. In each case, the unique combination of
clinician-scientists, Ph.D. researchers and clinically
focused staff of VA positions the VA to conduct the
necessary studies and translate the results into improved
patient care efficiently and effectively.
Brain and spinal cord injury, amputation and
prosthetics. Although the methods used to
rehabilitate patients influence outcomes, the
evidence-base for establishing rehabilitation care
guidelines does not yet exist. Studies measuring the
efficacy and outcomes of therapies and interventions
are necessary, as are models that simulate invasive
treatments. Basic engineering and cell biology studies
are required to provide more effective integration
of prosthetic devices into the body. Determination
of the factors that regulate nerve cell survival and
proliferation is required to promote regeneration
following spinal cord injury.
PTSD. Although treatment of PTSD has improved
considerably, it still leaves a lot to be desired. The
VA must remain a leader in PTSD research to ensure
that current and future veterans have access to
effective aids to recover from the stresses of combat.
Progress will depend on studies designed to
determine whether prompt intervention in a stressful
situation can prevent development of PTSD and
studies that will determine the neural and
immunological mechanisms associated with PTSD,
which could lead to the development of improved
drug therapies. Studies are also required to identify
cell death associated with this disorder and the
potential for new nerve cell generation to promote
recovery from PTSD.
Hepatitis C. The optimal way to treat this disease
is to prevent it with a vaccine. Support is required
to take advantage of discoveries by VA investigators
of important vaccine targets that could lead to the
development of a hepatitis C vaccine. The hepatitis
B vaccine has reduced new cases of hepatitis B by
over 90% in the United States; a hepatitis C vaccine
could have a similar impact.
COPD, asthma and lung cancer. Development
of animal models of COPD is required to better
understand the pathophysiology of this process and
identify novel therapeutics. Antagonists to specific
cytokines have been found to suppress lung
pathology in animal models of asthma and may
provide a similar benefit for humans with this
disease. Studies of genetic variation and gene
expression are required to identify patients who are
most likely to develop COPD and most likely to
respond to specific therapies.
Alcohol and drug addiction. Studies are required
to determine the molecular mechanisms that are
involved in alcohol and drug addiction and to test
new candidate drugs for treatment of these disorders,
including tobacco abuse.
Osteoporosis. Further basic and clinical research
is now needed to improve on currently available
drugs, to design new drug regimens that further
stimulate new bone formation and to design the most
efficacious and cost-effective, therapeutic
approaches for men as well as women.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
VA RESEARCH FUNDING PROCESS
FASEB applauds the VA for reversing detrimental
changes in its research funding process that were
proposed and partially implemented by a previous chief
of VA research. As a result, it appears that competitive
research funding will once again be based on VA
research requirements and investigator merit, as
determined by peer review. Dr. Stephan Fihn, the current
acting chief officer of VA Research and Development,
and his associates; Dr. Timothy O’Leary, head of
Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development
Service and Dr. Brian Schuster, head of Clinical Science
Research and Development Service, deserve special
praise for their hard work in rapidly restoring the integrity
of the VA research funding process.
Consensus Department Conference of Veterans Affairs Report 23

PROBLEMS WITH THE VA RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE
The research infrastructure at many VAMCs is in
deplorable shape. A substantial investment in buildings,
renovation and major equipment is required to allow
VA researchers to perform state-of-the-art research and
to prevent the best clinician-scientists with the VA from
leaving it in favor of other, more modern and betterequipped
facilities. Research infrastructure is a particular
problem for the VA, as it often competes for support
with infrastructure requirements for direct patient care
and as the VA, unlike medical schools and independent
research foundations, cannot collect overhead and other
infrastructure expenses on National Institutes of Health
(NIH) grants, which fund research performed in its
facilities.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The best way to treat veterans, now and in the future, is
to maintain the rapid advances being made in the
treatment of general medical disorders as well as those
that occur with increased frequency in our veteran
population. This can be achieved most efficiently by
supporting the talented and dedicated teams of basic
researchers, translational researchers and clinicians who
care for VA patients. To retain and recruit basic and
translational researchers, it is necessary to provide
competitive funding for research training (career
development and other entry-type awards), research
by senior M.D. and Ph.D. scientists (merit awards,
career scientist awards and research enhancement award
programs) and the research infrastructure (modern
buildings, facilities and equipment), which will allow VA
investigators to perform their research efficiently and
compete effectively for extramural research funding. To
do this, we make the following recommendations for
VA research funding.
The Biomedical Research and Development Price Index
(BRDPI), updated annually by the Department of
Commerce under an agreement with the NIH, indicates
how much research budgets should change to maintain
purchasing power. BRDPI, for FY 2005 and FY 2006,
is projected at 3.5%. The FY 2004 appropriation was
$405 million; this adjusted, for two years of inflation, is
approximately $433 million. The remainder is required
to support $20 million for the Deployment Health
Initiative and the opportunities for advances described
above, which include initiatives that will provide Iraq
War veterans with optimal prosthetics and rehabilitation
strategies and address other disorders that have been
associated with the Gulf Wars.
FASEB recommends an increase in the VA
biomedical research total budget from $402
million in the appropriations for FY 2005 to at
least $460 million in FY 2006.
Furthermore, a mechanism needs to be established to
provide the VA research enterprise with continuing
infrastructure funding to compensate for the lack of
overhead on NIH grants that fund research performed
in VA facilities.
As a first step toward long-over due
improvements in VA research infrastructure, we
also recommend $45 million for renovation,
major equipment and new research buildings
is required.
24 Federation of American Societies For Experimental Biology

AGENCY REVIEW COMMITTEES AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Panel Chair:
Paul W. Kincade, Ph.D.
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
FASEB President
NIH
Stephen M. Hedrick, Ph.D., Chair/FASEB Board
University of California-San Diego
The American Association of Immunologists
David B. Bylund, Ph.D.
University of Nebraska Medical Center
American Soc. for Pharmacology
& Experimental Therapeutics
Jay W. Fox, Ph.D.
University of Virginia
Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities
Joseph C. LaManna, Ph.D.
Case Western Reserve University
American Association of Anatomists
Mitchell A. Lazar, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
The Endocrine Society
Mary F. Lipscomb, M.D.
University of New Mexico
American Society for Investigative Pathology
Paula M. Lutz, Ph.D.
University of Missouri
The American Association of Immunologists
Virendra B. Mahesh , Ph.D.
Medical College of Georgia
Society for the Study of Reproduction
Fred R. Naider, Ph.D.
College of Staten Island
American Peptide Society
Robert R. Palazzo, Ph.D.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Am. Soc. for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Celia A. Schiffer, Ph.D.
University of Massachusetts Medical School
The Protein Society
Jerome F. Strauss, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania Medical Center
Society for Gynecologic Investigation
Lisa Vawter, Ph.D.
Aventis Pharmaceuticals
International Society for Computational Biology
W. Allan Walker, M.D.
Harvard Medical School
American Society for Nutritional Sciences
Irving H. Zucker, Ph.D.
University of Nebraska College of Medicine
American Physiological Society
Jon G. Retzlaff, M.B.A., M.P.A., Staff
Director of Legislative Relations
FASEB Office of Public Affairs
NSF
Peter H. Mathers, Ph.D., Chair/FASEB Board
West Virginia University School of Medicine
Society for Developmental Biology
George I. Makhatadze, Ph.D.
Pennsylvania State University
The Protein Society
Chi Van Dang, M.D., Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins Medical School
American Society for Clinical Investigation
John C. Wooley, Ph.D.
University of California-San Diego
International Soc. for Computational Biology
Consensus Agency Review Conference Committees Report and Acknowledgments
25

Andrea L. Stith, Ph.D., Staff
Science Policy Analyst
FASEB Office of Public Affairs
USDA
Bruce R. Bistrian, M.D., Ph.D., Chair/FASEB Board
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
American Society for Nutritional Sciences
Patsy M. Brannon, Ph.D.
Cornell University
American Society for Nutritional Sciences
Thomas E. Spencer, Ph.D.
Texas A&M University
Society for the Study of Reproduction
John W. Suttie, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Am. Soc. for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Catherine E. Woteki, Ph.D.
Iowa State University
American Society for Nutritional Sciences
Carrie D. Wolinetz, Ph.D., Staff
Associate Director for Communications
FASEB Office of Public Affairs
DOE
Mark O. Lively, Ph.D., Chair/FASEB Board
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Association for Biomolecular Resource Facilities
Mina J. Bissell, Ph.D.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Am. Soc. for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Clark R. Lantz, Ph.D.
University of Arizona
American Association of Anatomists
John A. Smith, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Alabama-Birmingham
American Peptide Society
Andrea L. Stith, Ph.D., Staff
Science Policy Analyst
FASEB Office of Public Affairs
VA
Fred D. Finkelman, M.D., Chair/FASEB Board
University of Cincinnati Medical Center
The American Association of Immunologists
Bernard Halloran, Ph.D.
University of California-San Francisco
Am. Soc. for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kim A. Neve, Ph.D.
VA Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
American Soc. for Pharmacology
& Experimental Therapeutics
William T. Talman, M.D.
University of Iowa
American Physiological Society
Peter A. Ward, M.D.
University of Michigan Medical School
American Society for Investigative Pathology
Leonard Wartofsky, M.D., M.P.H.
Washington Hospital Center
The Endocrine Society
Stanley Zucker, M.D.
Veteran Affairs Medical Center
Am. Soc. for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura M. Brockway, Ph.D., Staff
Science Policy Analyst
FASEB Office of Public Affairs
NASA
Barbara A. Horwitz, Ph.D., Chair/FASEB Board
University of California-Davis
American Physiological Society
Charles A. Fuller
University of California Davis
American Physiological Society
26 Federation of American Societies For Experimental Biology

Gloria A. Gronowicz, Ph.D.
University of Connecticut Health Center
Am. Soc. for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniel S. Kessler, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania Medical School
Society for Developmental Biology
Charles J. Lockwood, M.D.
Yale University School of Medicine
Society for Gynecologic Investigation
Gerald Sonnenfeld, Ph.D.
State University of New York-Binghamtom
The American Association of Immunologists
Gary J. Kline, M.P.P., Staff
Legislative Analyst
FASEB Office of Public Affairs
Ex-Officio
Howard H. Garrison, Ph.D.
Director
FASEB Office of Public Affairs
Frederick R. Rickles, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Executive Director
FASEB
Bruce R. Bistrian, M.D., Ph.D.
American Society for Nutritional Sciences
FASEB President-Elect
Andrea L. Stith, Ph.D.
Editor
FASEB Office of Public Affairs
FASEB would also like to acknowledge the important contributions of James Bernstein, Director of
Government and Public Affairs for the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics;
Joann Boughman, Executive Vice President for the American Society of Human Genetics; Ida Chow,
Executive Officer of the Society for Development Biology; Peter Farnham, Public Affairs Officer for the
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Joan Goldberg, Executive Director of The
American Society for Bone and Mineral Research; Lauren Gross, Director of Public Policy and Government
Affairs for The American Association of Immunologists; Tracy Lawless, Public Affairs Officer for the
American Society for Nutritional Sciences; Bonnie Litch, Editorial Consultant; Mark Mirando for the
USDA; Andrea Pendleton, Executive Director for the American Association of Anatomists; Alice Ra’anan,
Public Affairs Officer for The American Physiological Society; Christopher Rorick, Manager of Legislative
Relations for The Endocrine Society; Mark Sobel, Executive Officer for the American Society for Investigative
Pathology; David Thomassen, Program Coordinator for the DOE Office of Science; Ellen Weiss, Public
Affairs Coordinator for the Biophysical Society; Barbara West, Executive Director for the National
Association of Veterans Research and Educational Foundations; Cindy Yablonski, Executive Officer for
The Protein Society; Sandra Drury of the FASEB Office of Public Affairs; Rick Dunn, Director, FASEB
Office of the Production Services; Lynn Willis, of the FASEB Publications Department; and the staff of
the FASEB Printing and Graphics Department.
Consensus Agency Review Conference Committees Report and Acknowledgments
27

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