PRIM&R
@weareprimr.bsky.social
For over 50 years, Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research, a national nonprofit, has envisioned a world where ethics, welfare, inclusion, and trust are central to science and medicine.
According to a report in Science, CDC scientists have been directed to phase out all monkey research, affecting about 200 macaques. This would be the first in-house nonhuman primate program ended by a U.S. agency since NIH retired its research chimpanzees ten years ago. https://bit.ly/3KgQLLX
The CDC Is Ending Its Monkey Research Program. Here’s Why That Matters
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s decision to end its monkey research program will affect studies involving some 200 macaques, and the fate of the animals is unclear
www.scientificamerican.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:40 PM
According to a report in Science, CDC scientists have been directed to phase out all monkey research, affecting about 200 macaques. This would be the first in-house nonhuman primate program ended by a U.S. agency since NIH retired its research chimpanzees ten years ago. https://bit.ly/3KgQLLX
After nearly six weeks of shutdown, the Senate has passed a bill to reopen the government and provide full funding through the end of January. We at PRIM&R are glad to see the shutdown end and the relief it brings to those who were out of work during this extended period. https://cbsn.ws/4p92YkH
Government shutdown ends as Trump signs funding bill, capping longest lapse ever
President Trump signed a government funding package at the White House late Wednesday, formally ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
www.cbsnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:05 PM
After nearly six weeks of shutdown, the Senate has passed a bill to reopen the government and provide full funding through the end of January. We at PRIM&R are glad to see the shutdown end and the relief it brings to those who were out of work during this extended period. https://cbsn.ws/4p92YkH
This year, the FDA has experienced major leadership changes and staff turnover. “It is going to kill drug development if you don’t have consistency and transparency,” Replimune CEO Sushil Patel told STAT in a recent article. Read more here: https://bit.ly/47FJU7L
Biotech leaders say uncertainty at FDA threatens drug development
The FDA's rejections of Replimune and Capricor therapies show how instability threatens biotech innovation, CEOs say.
www.statnews.com
October 27, 2025 at 10:00 PM
This year, the FDA has experienced major leadership changes and staff turnover. “It is going to kill drug development if you don’t have consistency and transparency,” Replimune CEO Sushil Patel told STAT in a recent article. Read more here: https://bit.ly/47FJU7L
A recent STAT article analyzes the impact of the CDC employee RIFs and rescissions. Read more here: https://www.statnews.com/2025/10/17/cdc-national-center-health-statistics-rif-layoff-impact/
Some of CDC’s health statistics employees are still in the dark
The National Center for Health Statistics divisions lost about 100 people to RIFs. Here's what estimate about 100 jobs were terminated
www.statnews.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM
A recent STAT article analyzes the impact of the CDC employee RIFs and rescissions. Read more here: https://www.statnews.com/2025/10/17/cdc-national-center-health-statistics-rif-layoff-impact/
A recent National Academies report, "Simplifying Research Regulations and Policies: Optimizing American Science," highlights seven regulatory areas in federally funded research with redundancies, contradictions, and complexities that could be simplified. Read more: https://bit.ly/46jdAqI
Simplifying Research Regulations and Policies: Optimizing American Science
Read online, download a free PDF, or order a copy in print.
nap.nationalacademies.org
September 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
A recent National Academies report, "Simplifying Research Regulations and Policies: Optimizing American Science," highlights seven regulatory areas in federally funded research with redundancies, contradictions, and complexities that could be simplified. Read more: https://bit.ly/46jdAqI
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s advisory committee met last week to discuss vaccination updates. The panel limited MMRV use for children under 4, postponed a vote on newborn hepatitis B shots, and declined to broadly recommend COVID-19 vaccines. Read more: https://bit.ly/4nKXYSG
Takeaways from RFK Jr.'s vaccine panel meeting on COVID-19 and childhood vaccines
A vaccine advisory committee handpicked by U.S. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. met in Atlanta for two days this week to consider various vaccine recommendations.
apnews.com
September 23, 2025 at 8:30 PM
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s advisory committee met last week to discuss vaccination updates. The panel limited MMRV use for children under 4, postponed a vote on newborn hepatitis B shots, and declined to broadly recommend COVID-19 vaccines. Read more: https://bit.ly/4nKXYSG
The AAMC report, "Robust NIH Funding Saves Lives, Strengthens America," warns that proposed 40% NIH cuts could affect patients, slow discoveries, and impact U.S. science. The AAMC calls to restore FY26 funding and let the federal grant process continue without interruption. https://bit.ly/4pR9Gx4
New AAMC Report Highlights How Robust Funding for NIH Would Save Lives
The AAMC releases new report on NIH funding and the threat to America's dominance in scientific discovery.
www.aamc.org
September 23, 2025 at 4:30 PM
The AAMC report, "Robust NIH Funding Saves Lives, Strengthens America," warns that proposed 40% NIH cuts could affect patients, slow discoveries, and impact U.S. science. The AAMC calls to restore FY26 funding and let the federal grant process continue without interruption. https://bit.ly/4pR9Gx4
Dr. Susan Monarez, former CDC director, told a Senate committee this morning that the HHS secretary prioritized politics over public health by requiring all CDC policy and personnel decisions to be cleared by political staff, according to CNN. https://cnn.it/4gs3E1D
Ex-CDC director tells senators that RFK Jr. required political sign-off on decisions, called for firings without cause | CNN
Dr. Susan Monarez, former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a Senate committee hearing on Wednesday that US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy J...
www.cnn.com
September 17, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Dr. Susan Monarez, former CDC director, told a Senate committee this morning that the HHS secretary prioritized politics over public health by requiring all CDC policy and personnel decisions to be cleared by political staff, according to CNN. https://cnn.it/4gs3E1D
The House spending panel rejected a 40% NIH cut, keeping its 2026 budget at ~$47B and all 27 institutes intact. ARPA-H would drop 37%, CDC 19%. The bill moves to the full Appropriations Committee Sept. 9 at 5pm EST. PRIM&R will continue to monitor this developing legislation. https://bit.ly/4ghne0b
House Republicans add to support for maintaining NIH budget in 2026
Both chambers of Congress have now rejected Trump’s proposed 40% cut
www.science.org
September 9, 2025 at 9:30 PM
The House spending panel rejected a 40% NIH cut, keeping its 2026 budget at ~$47B and all 27 institutes intact. ARPA-H would drop 37%, CDC 19%. The bill moves to the full Appropriations Committee Sept. 9 at 5pm EST. PRIM&R will continue to monitor this developing legislation. https://bit.ly/4ghne0b
Former CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez wrote an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, stating: "Parents deserve a CDC they can trust to put children above politics, evidence above ideology and facts above fear."
https://on.wsj.com/41Hu1KO
https://on.wsj.com/41Hu1KO
Opinion | Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the CDC and Me
I was fired after 29 days because I held the line and insisted on rigorous scientific review.
on.wsj.com
September 5, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Former CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez wrote an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, stating: "Parents deserve a CDC they can trust to put children above politics, evidence above ideology and facts above fear."
https://on.wsj.com/41Hu1KO
https://on.wsj.com/41Hu1KO
CNN reported today that more than 1,000 current and former employees of the HHS wrote a letter to members of Congress and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., stating that the HHS Secretary's leadership has “put the health of all Americans at risk” and demanding his resignation. https://cnn.it/3HGE9Nb
HHS employees demand RFK Jr. resign for ‘compromising the health of this nation’ | CNN
More than 1,000 current and former employees of the US Department of Health and Human Services wrote a letter to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday, arguing that his leadership has “put the ...
www.cnn.com
September 3, 2025 at 6:00 PM
CNN reported today that more than 1,000 current and former employees of the HHS wrote a letter to members of Congress and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., stating that the HHS Secretary's leadership has “put the health of all Americans at risk” and demanding his resignation. https://cnn.it/3HGE9Nb
In our latest episode of Research Ethics Reimagined we explore human challenge studies for shigellosis, examining their role in vaccine development and the ethical considerations of intentionally infecting healthy volunteers. Our guests are Dr. Wilbur H Chen and Jake Eberts. https://apple.co/42do7kD
Human Challenge Studies With Wilbur H. Chen, MD, and Jake Eberts
Podcast Episode · Research Ethics Reimagined · 08/29/2025 · 56m
apple.co
September 2, 2025 at 8:30 PM
In our latest episode of Research Ethics Reimagined we explore human challenge studies for shigellosis, examining their role in vaccine development and the ethical considerations of intentionally infecting healthy volunteers. Our guests are Dr. Wilbur H Chen and Jake Eberts. https://apple.co/42do7kD
The NIH recently announced a new research application policy, open for public comment in the Federal Register, titled, "Supporting Fairness and Originality in NIH Research Applications." The notice addresses AI-developed grant applications and application limits. https://bit.ly/3JydfHB
Supporting Fairness and Originality in NIH Research Applications
The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health published a Notice in the Federal Register on August 5, 2025. That notice requires a correction in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMAT...
www.federalregister.gov
August 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
The NIH recently announced a new research application policy, open for public comment in the Federal Register, titled, "Supporting Fairness and Originality in NIH Research Applications." The notice addresses AI-developed grant applications and application limits. https://bit.ly/3JydfHB
NIH has released its Gold Standard Science Implementation Plan, highlighting key accomplishments and laying out a transparent vision for the future.
Read the full statement from NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and access the plan here: https://bit.ly/3JBTsXL
Read the full statement from NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and access the plan here: https://bit.ly/3JBTsXL
NIH Publishes Plan to Drive Gold Standard Science
Building on NIH’s longstanding commitment to scientific integrity, this forward-looking plan incorporates the nine, interlocking tenets of gold standard science.
www.nih.gov
August 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM
NIH has released its Gold Standard Science Implementation Plan, highlighting key accomplishments and laying out a transparent vision for the future.
Read the full statement from NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and access the plan here: https://bit.ly/3JBTsXL
Read the full statement from NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and access the plan here: https://bit.ly/3JBTsXL
The Supreme Court has ruled 5–4 to allow the administration to cut $783 million in federal research funding, reversing a lower court’s decision. This ruling greenlights the NIH’s termination of grants related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Read more: https://bit.ly/4mxuVlg
Supreme Court lets Trump administration cut $783 million of research funding in anti-DEI push
The Trump administration can slash $783 million of research funding in its push to cut federal diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, the Supreme Court decided Thursday.
www.statnews.com
August 25, 2025 at 8:30 PM
The Supreme Court has ruled 5–4 to allow the administration to cut $783 million in federal research funding, reversing a lower court’s decision. This ruling greenlights the NIH’s termination of grants related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Read more: https://bit.ly/4mxuVlg
Don’t miss PRIM&R’s Federal Public Policy Briefing tomorrow, August 26, 1:00–1:45 PM ET. Naomi Charalambakis, PhD, of Americans for Medical Progress, will discuss NIH’s July 10 funding announcement and its impact on research. Join the conversation: https://education.primr.org/courses/111236
PRIM&R Federal Public Policy Briefing | PRIM&R
Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 1:00-1:45pm ET
education.primr.org
August 25, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Don’t miss PRIM&R’s Federal Public Policy Briefing tomorrow, August 26, 1:00–1:45 PM ET. Naomi Charalambakis, PhD, of Americans for Medical Progress, will discuss NIH’s July 10 funding announcement and its impact on research. Join the conversation: https://education.primr.org/courses/111236
New episode of "Research Ethics Reimagined": We explore community-engaged research and its role in advancing health equity, particularly in cancer care. Our guest: Monica L. Albertie, Director of Research Operations for Community Outreach and Engagement at the @mayocliniccancer.bsky.social
Community Engaged Research With Monica L. Albertie
Podcast Episode · Research Ethics Reimagined · 04/30/2025 · 40m
podcasts.apple.com
April 30, 2025 at 7:06 PM
New episode of "Research Ethics Reimagined": We explore community-engaged research and its role in advancing health equity, particularly in cancer care. Our guest: Monica L. Albertie, Director of Research Operations for Community Outreach and Engagement at the @mayocliniccancer.bsky.social
Reposted by PRIM&R
Out today in @jama.com, a joint warning from AEREO, @weareprimr.bsky.social, @aahrpp.bsky.social, and CARE-Q, about how capped indirects and decimation of OHRP risk slowing research and making participants less safe.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Preserving Research Ethics Oversight Amid Decimation of the Research Enterprise
This Viewpoint examines how research ethics oversight, particularly by institutional review boards, has been affected by expansive federal staffing and budget cuts.
jamanetwork.com
April 28, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Out today in @jama.com, a joint warning from AEREO, @weareprimr.bsky.social, @aahrpp.bsky.social, and CARE-Q, about how capped indirects and decimation of OHRP risk slowing research and making participants less safe.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by PRIM&R
The thing to understand re: OHRP/SACHRP, and so many of the axed programs/people, is that those "outside baseball" have no idea they exist, quietly working in the background to keep the American public safe. When things start to go wrong in research oversight + elsewhere, their absence will be felt.
SACHRP, a federal advisory panel on ethical, legal issues in human health research, is no longer. From me and @pharmalot.bsky.social:
www.statnews.com/2025/04/03/h...
www.statnews.com/2025/04/03/h...
Federal advisory panel on ethical, legal issues in human health research disbanded
A committee of experts that advises HHS on emerging ethical and legal issues in human health research has been disbanded, according to an email obtained by STAT.
www.statnews.com
April 4, 2025 at 10:33 AM
The thing to understand re: OHRP/SACHRP, and so many of the axed programs/people, is that those "outside baseball" have no idea they exist, quietly working in the background to keep the American public safe. When things start to go wrong in research oversight + elsewhere, their absence will be felt.
Reposted by PRIM&R
A joint statement from www.AEREO.org, @weareprimr.bsky.social, @aahrpp.bsky.social, careq.ucsd.edu, calling on the administration to protect + restore OHRP against loss of expert leadership and
provide it with the resources needed to ensure public safety + a trustworthy human research enterprise.
provide it with the resources needed to ensure public safety + a trustworthy human research enterprise.
April 4, 2025 at 1:23 PM
A joint statement from www.AEREO.org, @weareprimr.bsky.social, @aahrpp.bsky.social, careq.ucsd.edu, calling on the administration to protect + restore OHRP against loss of expert leadership and
provide it with the resources needed to ensure public safety + a trustworthy human research enterprise.
provide it with the resources needed to ensure public safety + a trustworthy human research enterprise.
The Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Human Research Protections (SACHRP), an essential expert panel that has advised HHS on ethical issues in human health research for nearly 25 years, was disbanded this week, @statnews.com reported.
Federal advisory panel on ethical, legal issues in human health research disbanded
A committee of experts that advises HHS on emerging ethical and legal issues in human health research has been disbanded, according to an email obtained by STAT.
www.statnews.com
April 4, 2025 at 7:33 PM
The Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Human Research Protections (SACHRP), an essential expert panel that has advised HHS on ethical issues in human health research for nearly 25 years, was disbanded this week, @statnews.com reported.
The drastic policy changes and continuous cutbacks to federal research funding undermine the ability of federal agencies to ensure safety in scientific research. Those providing this oversight are vital to research, which saves and improves lives.
April 1, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The drastic policy changes and continuous cutbacks to federal research funding undermine the ability of federal agencies to ensure safety in scientific research. Those providing this oversight are vital to research, which saves and improves lives.
We should be strengthening our public health agencies, not dismantling them. Job cuts at the NIH will hinder scientific research, delay medical breakthroughs, and jeopardize public health and safety by limiting the development of critical health innovations and disease prevention strategies.
March 28, 2025 at 6:41 PM
We should be strengthening our public health agencies, not dismantling them. Job cuts at the NIH will hinder scientific research, delay medical breakthroughs, and jeopardize public health and safety by limiting the development of critical health innovations and disease prevention strategies.
Overall, HHS announced 10,000 layoffs Thursday, part of its efforts to eventually slash its workforce from 82,000 to 62,000, according to reports. Cutting the HHS workforce by this magnitude will weaken research oversight.
March 28, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Overall, HHS announced 10,000 layoffs Thursday, part of its efforts to eventually slash its workforce from 82,000 to 62,000, according to reports. Cutting the HHS workforce by this magnitude will weaken research oversight.
The massive HHS job cuts announced Thursday will undermine public health and further strain the system responsible for health and safety of our communities. The FDA is losing 3,500 people. The CDC and NIH are, collectively, facing 3,600 job cuts.
March 28, 2025 at 6:36 PM
The massive HHS job cuts announced Thursday will undermine public health and further strain the system responsible for health and safety of our communities. The FDA is losing 3,500 people. The CDC and NIH are, collectively, facing 3,600 job cuts.