Events

Funding is the Talk of NAEVR Central at ARVO 2013

NAEVR’s James Jorkasky and David Epstein in front of NAEVR Central 2013 in Seattle
NAEVR’s James Jorkasky and David Epstein in front of NAEVR Central 2013 in Seattle

Due to its prominent position next to ARVO Central on the Skybridge between the exhibit halls in the Washington State Convention Center, NAEVR Central at the 2013 ARVO Annual meeting in Seattle provided a convenient location for researchers to talk about funding-both final Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 funding and that proposed for FY2014 in the President’s budget.

During the meeting, details of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) FY2013 spending plan were made public in the press (unofficially, since they had not yet been posted by the Office of Management and Budget, OMB), with National Eye Institute (NEI) funding at $662.15 million, which is a $39.9 million or 5.7 percent decrease below the FY2012 level (inclusive of a $35.3 million sequester cut plus program transfers). That disappointing news incentivized researchers to contact their Members of Congress at the booth to ask for an improvement in the President’s proposed FY2014 budget, which plans no NEI budget growth-although it does propose to replace the sequester with a package of other budget cuts and new revenue.

The funding bright spot was discussion at NAEVR’s May 6 Defense-Related Vision Research Opportunities session about a late June/early July Vision Trauma Research Program (VTRP) announcement requesting grant submissions. The dedicated VTRP line in FY2013 Department of Defense (DOD) appropriations was funded at $10 million-the highest ever. Despite an eight percent sequester cut, it will yield at least $9.2 million in funding opportunities for research that addresses DOD-identified gaps. Throughout the meeting, NAEVR added numerous researchers to its “DOD Interest List” to notify when the funding announcement issues from the DOD’s Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), which manages the VTRP. To be added to the list, email depstein@eyeresearch.org. To learn more about this opportunity, click into the AEVR brochure The Value of Defense-Related Vision Research.

“NAEVR Central was once again a hub of activity for the vision community, with researchers speaking about funding challenges and opportunities. NAEVR wants to thank all who stopped by to contact Congress and to learn more about the Alliance’s activities and resources. NAEVR’s David Epstein and I look forward to building upon the many new relationships we developed at this year’s meeting,” said NAEVR Executive Director James Jorkasky.

David Epstein meets with John Brabyn, Ph.D. (Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute) while Darlene Dartt, Ph.D. (Schepens Eye Research Institute/ Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary) contacts Congress
David Epstein meets with John Brabyn, Ph.D. (Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute) while Darlene Dartt, Ph.D. (Schepens Eye Research Institute/ Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary) contacts Congress		 Left to right: Sandra Block, O.D. (Illinois College of Optometry) and Torrey DeKeyser (EyeSight Foundation of Alabama
Left to right: Sandra Block, O.D. (Illinois College of Optometry) and Torrey DeKeyser (EyeSight Foundation of Alabama)
Left to right: Gadi Wollstein, M.D. (University of Pittsburgh) with Elaine Richman (Richman Associates). In March, Dr. Wollstein spoke at AEVR’s World Glaucoma Week Congressional Briefing.
Left to right: Gadi Wollstein, M.D. (University of Pittsburgh) with Elaine Richman (Richman Associates). In March, Dr. Wollstein spoke at AEVR’s World Glaucoma Week Congressional Briefing. 		Left to right: Bryan Bischel (Bausch+Lomb), David Epstein, Hendrik Scholl, M.D. (Wilmer Eye Institute/Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine) and James Jorkasky address funding issues. In March, Dr. Scholl testified on behalf of NAEVR before the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee on NIH/NEI funding.
Left to right: Bryan Bischel (Bausch+Lomb), David Epstein, Hendrik Scholl, M.D. (Wilmer Eye Institute/Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine) and James Jorkasky address funding issues. In March, Dr. Scholl testified on behalf of NAEVR before the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee on NIH/NEI funding.
Left to right: At NAEVR’s May 6 Defense-Related Vision Opportunities session, Colonel Donald Gagliano, M.D. (Bausch+Lomb), formerly the Director of the joint DOD/VA Vision Center of Excellence, led a panel of VTRP-funded researchers that included (seated): Randy Kardon, M.D., Ph.D. (University of Iowa), Stacey Choi, Ph.D. (New England College of Optometry), and James Weiland, Ph.D. (Doheny Eye Insitute). All three have discussed their research at past AEVR Congressional briefings
Left to right: At NAEVR’s May 6 Defense-Related Vision Opportunities session, Colonel Donald Gagliano, M.D. (Bausch+Lomb), formerly the Director of the joint DOD/VA Vision Center of Excellence, led a panel of VTRP-funded researchers that included (seated): Randy Kardon, M.D., Ph.D. (University of Iowa), Stacey Choi, Ph.D. (New England College of Optometry), and James Weiland, Ph.D. (Doheny Eye Insitute). All three have discussed their research at past AEVR Congressional briefings.		 Left to right: NAEVR’s James Jorkasky with ARVO Trustee John Clark, Ph.D. (University of Washington) and ARVO Trustee Linda McCloon, Ph.D. (University of Minnesota), who chairs ARVO’s Advocacy Committee. Dr. Clark organized the Veterans Vision and Traumatic Brain Injury held the previous day
Left to right: NAEVR’s James Jorkasky with ARVO Trustee John Clark, Ph.D. (University of Washington) and ARVO Trustee Linda McCloon, Ph.D. (University of Minnesota), who chairs ARVO’s Advocacy Committee. Dr. Clark organized the Veterans Vision and Traumatic Brain Injury session held the previous day.
NAEVR’s May 6 session drew a capacity crowd
NAEVR’s May 6 session drew a capacity crowd