Thank You to Senate Appropriators

August 18, 2025

Senator Susan Collins 
413 Dirksen Senate Office Building 
Washington, DC 20510 

Senator Patty Murray 
154 Russell Senate Office Building 
Washington, DC 20510 

Senator Shelley Moore Capito 
170 Russell Senate Office Building 
Washington, DC 20510 

Senator Tammy Baldwin 
141 Hart Senate Office Building 
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senators Collins, Murray, Capito and Baldwin: 

We write today on behalf of the American Physiological Society (APS) to thank you for demonstrating your commitment to a strong and vibrant biomedical research enterprise in the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill. At a time of significant uncertainty for the scientific community, your leadership is needed more than ever.  

Funding for biomedical research 
The $400 million increase proposed for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a welcome signal that you recognize the importance of cutting-edge NIH-funded research, which is carried out by scientists at institutions across the nation. APS also appreciates the inclusion of an additional $30 million for women’s health research. Physiologists have a keen interest in understanding how sex differences influence physiology in both health and disease, research that benefits both men and women. Additional resources are urgently needed to address the knowledge gap that exists after decades of underinvestment in women’s health research.  

Changing policy landscape 
The biomedical research community is facing threats from several disruptive policy changes, including a cut to indirect costs, reorganization of institutes and centers, slowed disbursement of funds in the current fiscal year, and an abrupt shift to a multiyear funding model. APS appreciates the committee’s attention to these critical issues, all of which pose serious challenges to scientific research.  

Of these policy changes, the shift to multiyear funding poses an immediate risk to investigators who find themselves with a less than 5% chance of funding. These low funding rates will disrupt ongoing research projects and drive out highly skilled scientific staff. Even if a future grant application is funded, these types of disruptions have long-term impacts, slowing scientific momentum and the search for cures.   

Scientific publishing 
As a U.S.-based non-profit society publisher of 14 original research scientific journals and 2 review journals, APS was pleased to see the committee include report language about the costs of scientific publishing. High-quality scientific publishing requires substantial investment in editorial oversight, peer review management, content curation, technology infrastructure, and long-term preservation.  

APS offers most of its original research journal content under the Subscribe to Open (S2O) model, which provides immediate free access with low publication fees. This model allows APS to maintain rigorous peer review, provide long-term stewardship of the scientific record, and reinvest in the physiology community. Government restrictions on pricing risk stifling innovation in publishing models and could undermine the financial viability of nonprofit publishers, which would reduce options for researchers seeking high-quality, community-led journals.  

Implementation of novel alternative methods 
While APS appreciates the committee’s interest in advancing novel alternative methods (NAMs) for biomedical research, we emphasize that animal models continue to be necessary and irreplaceable for advancing science. APS supports the principles of the 3Rs (reduction, refinement and replacement) of animal research. When scientifically justified and appropriate, NAMs can be powerful research tools.  However, a complete replacement for animal models in biomedical research and drug development does not currently exist.  

NAMs, while more sophisticated than traditional cell cultures, cannot replicate the complexity of organs, let alone entire living systems. Even the most sophisticated NAMs cannot reliably answer questions about dynamic physiological states such as pregnancy and hypertension. As NIH undertakes efforts to increase the use of NAMs with support of Congress, APS encourages all stakeholders to focus on advancing the best science by funding the most appropriate experimental models for the research being proposed. Replacing animal models prematurely puts the health and safety of Americans at risk. 

Politicization of science 
Following the committee’s passage of the FY 2026 funding legislation, President Trump issued an Executive Order on Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking. Of significant concern in the Executive Order is the requirement to allow termination of grants for convenience. When scientists apply for grants to support their work, they plan for at least the next 3-5 years. If grant support can be terminated at any time without cause, researchers will struggle to efficiently plan and execute multiyear research projects. This provision risks wasting resources that have already been invested by disrupting research progress.   

The Executive Order also specifies that a senior non-career appointee must review and approve funding opportunity announcements and discretionary grants to “ensure that they are consistent with agency priorities and the national interest.” This requirement will undermine the peer review process and insert political influence into federally funded scientific research. APS urges you to exercise oversight and consider ways to safeguard federal grantmaking from undue political influence.    

Thank you again for your longstanding commitment to advancing scientific research and supporting the research community. APS is grateful that the committee continues to recognize the importance of biomedical research in the pursuit of healthier lives for all Americans.   

Sincerely, 

Robert Hester, PhD, FAPS
President  

Scott Steen, CAE, FASAE  
Chief Executive Officer