Advocacy for Federal Action and NIH Funding

Many members of the College of Medicine have expressed concern over the recently proposed cuts to the NIH budget.   As part of this concern, many have felt the need to contact their elected representation in government.  For contact to be considered appropriate, it must be presented as from an individual citizen not as from a representative of the University, meaning it must be sent from a personal email address and personal mailing address.  The University’s compliance with Federal lobbying laws requires that individuals gain approval through the Vice President of Research’s office to lobby the federal government on behalf of the University of Kentucky.  

For more information on how to appropriately contact elected officials, contact Eric King in the UK Office of Federal Relations. 

Concerns over the proposed NIH budget are likely to lead to a large participation in the March for Science on April 22.  As with all contact, all members of the UK community should represent themselves as private citizens. 

Many organizations provide assistance in reaching out to elected officials as private citizens.  Examples include:
FASEB: http://faseb.org/Science-Policy-and-Advocacy/Become-an-Advocate/Advocacy-Tool-Kit.aspx
AAMC:  https://www.aamc.org/advocacy
AAAS:  https://www.forceforscience.org/