Good morning/afternoon, My name is [INSERT YOUR NAME] and I am a [INSERT YOUR PROFESSIONAL/ACADEMIC BACKGROUND IN HUMAN GENETICS AND GENOMICS RESEARCH] and a member of the American Society for Human Genetics (ASHG). [NOTE IF YOU ARE A CONSTITUENT]. I am writing to express my [REASON FOR WRITING]. NIH Funding: The NIH is the largest... Read More
Build Relationships with Elected Officials Advocacy doesn’t just happen in Washington, D.C. Building relationships with local officials is just as important, and you can do it anytime. Congress is in recess and working from their home states, typically from July through early September and from mid-December through the end of the year. Some tips to... Read More
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting approximately 1 in 31 children (3.2%) and approximately 2.2% of adults.[1],[2] Research shows that genetic factors significantly contribute to autism; hundreds of genes and chromosomal variations are known to increase the likelihood of autism.[3] Advances in genetic testing – such as genome sequencing – and large-scale collaborative genomic studies... Read More
Biomedical Research Funding Insufficient in President’s Budget Proposal On April 3, the Trump Administration released the President’s Budget Request (PBR) for FY 2027. The proposal cuts funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by 12.3 percent, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) by 37%, and the National Science Foundation (NSF) by more... Read More
In order that the benefits of human genetics and genomics research are realized by all people, research studies must reflect humanity’s genetic variation. This will take a concerted effort by the research community and must include greater engagement with individuals and communities. Policymakers play a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of genetic research, healthcare, and public policy, and ASHG communicates with Congress and others... Read More