ASBMB members advocate for funding on Capitol Hill

On March 6, more than 50 members of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology convened in Washington, D.C., for the society’s annual Capitol Hill Day ahead of the 2026 Annual Meeting. They met with lawmakers and staff to call for increased federal investment in basic science via strong funding for the agencies that power U.S. scientific innovation.

ASBMB

Chelsea Rand–Fleming, a Ph.D. candidate at Auburn University; Matt Koci, a professor at North Carolina State University; Bettie Sue Masters, an adjunct professor at Duke University; and Judith Bond, an adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina, pose for a photo outside the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

Over the course of the day, ASBMB members held more than 120 meetings with lawmakers and congressional staff, sharing firsthand perspectives on how federal research funding supports scientific discovery, workforce development and local economies.

“Capitol Hill Day is an opportunity for scientists to share directly with policymakers how federally funded research impacts their work, their institutions and their communities,” ASBMB CEO Mona Miller said. “Those conversations are essential to ensuring science remains a national priority.”

In conjunction with Hill Day, ASBMB launched its annual letter-writing campaign to help researchers across the country make their voices heard. These efforts will continue throughout the year, and you can learn more by visiting ASBMB's Advocacy Action Center.

Strengthening the research enterprise

ASBMB

Amy J. Hawkins, assistant professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine, and Susan Holechek, professor and School of Life Sciences Undergraduate Research program director at Arizona State University, and Max Grant, a congressional staffer, pose for a photo outside the office of U.S. Senator John Curtis, R-Utah, on Capitol Hill.

ASBMB advocates told lawmakers that federal investment in basic science research is essential for maintaining the United States’ leadership in scientific discovery and innovation.

They warned that instability in research funding and training programs can disrupt scientific progress and make it harder to retain talented scientists in the U.S.

“Uncertainty in research funding has real consequences for scientists and institutions,” said Kevin Gardner, distinguished professor and director of the Structural Biology Initiative at the City University of New York’s Advanced Science Research Center and chair of ASBMB’s Public Affairs Advisory Committee. “When support becomes unpredictable, it can delay projects, limit opportunities for trainees and really challenge sustaining the research environment that drives discovery.”

Advocates also highlighted the importance of supporting the next generation of scientists through federal training programs. These programs provide critical opportunities for students and early-career researchers to gain hands-on research experience and pursue careers in science.

“I’m advocating for continued funding for research training programs,” Jennifer Roecklein–Canfield, professor of chemistry at Simmons College and ASBMB fellow, said. “These programs allow scientists like me to train the next generation, giving students the chance to grow as future researchers.”

Advocating for scientific research

ASBMB

Sudheesh Allikka Parambil, an associate research scientist at Yale University, and Cristian Sandoval Vásquez, an associate professor at Universidad Santo Tomás pose for a photo on Capitol Hill..

ASBMB’s Capitol Hill Day came at a pivotal moment for the research community as policymakers consider federal funding priorities for the coming fiscal year.

In meetings with congressional offices, ASBMB members advocated for strong federal funding for key science agencies and programs that support basic research across the country.

ASBMB’s fiscal year 2027 appropriations requests include:

• $51.3 billion for the National Institutes of Health to support its intramural and extramural research and training programs.
• $9.9 billion for the National Science Foundation to support foundational research in all scientific disciplines and future innovators.
• $9.5 billion for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science to support cutting-edge research at its programs, including 17 national laboratories.

Scientists also urged lawmakers to strengthen federal investments in basic science research and research training programs to keep pace with international partners and competitors.

“I feel fortunate to have benefited from decades of government investment in research that came before me,” Anne–Frances Miller, professor of chemistry at the University of Kentucky and member of ASBMB’s Publications Committee, said. “But I’m concerned that future generations may not have the same opportunities if we don’t sustain that commitment and keep pace globally.”

Ensuring thoughtful policy changes

ASBMB

Marilee Benore, a professor of biology and biochemistry emerita at the University of Michigan–Dearborn; congressional staffer Melissa Dickerson; David Cabrera, chief of staff at Van Andel Institute; Neil Marsh, a professor at the University of Michigan; and Samantha Liu, a Ph.D. candidate at Dartmouth College pose for a photo outside the office of U.S. Senator Gary Peters, D-Mich., on Capitol Hill.

In addition to funding priorities, advocates emphasized the need for thoughtful implementation of federal science policies and any potential agency restructuring.

ASBMB members urged Congress to make any changes to federal science agencies through a deliberate and transparent process that includes congressional authorization and meaningful input from the scientific community.

Advocates also emphasized that proposals for multi-year funding approaches must include clear transition plans and adequate resources to ensure research programs can continue without disruption.

Beyond the Hill

ASBMB’s Capitol Hill Day is part of a broader effort to empower scientists to engage in advocacy and communicate the value of scientific research.

Members across the country can continue these efforts by writing to their members of Congress, scheduling meetings with lawmakers in their district offices and sharing their stories about the impact of science. For more information, visit ASBMB’s Advocacy Action Center.

“Advocating for biomedical research means showing policymakers and the public how this work, funded by taxpayer dollars, benefits their communities,” Amy J. Hawkins, assistant professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine and chair of ASBMB’s Science Outreach and Communication Committee, said. “Science serves us all.”

Gardner said the society will continue working with policymakers to ensure that federal investments in science remain strong.

“Every member of ASBMB has a role to play in protecting and advancing science,” Gardner said. “By sharing your stories, meeting with lawmakers and highlighting the impact of research in your communities, we can ensure that federal investment in science remains strong and that the next generation of scientists has the opportunities they deserve.”

ASBMB

ASBMB staff Lynn Marquis, Raechel McKinley and Shannon Freedman pose for a photo with ASBMB committee members, fellows, delegates from the Advocacy Training Program and other ASBMB members in front of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.