Throughout the year, SOT is approached by like-minded organizations to lend its support to varying issues and recommendations. This blog contains a summary of a recent action by SOT related to regulations and public policy. It also contains other policy items and opportunities that may be of interest to SOT members.
Call for Members for the European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS)
The SCCS is seeking members to serve for the new 2027–2031 term. The SCCS provides independent scientific advice to the European Commission on issues related to the safety of consumer products, in particular cosmetic ingredients. Applications are due May 31, 2026. More information is available on the European Commission website.
Input on the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan
NIH is developing a Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2027–2031 and is seeking input from the public on the draft plan. Comments are due May 26, 2026. More information is available on the NIH website.
Opposition to Proposed FY2027 NIH Budget
In April 2026, SOT signed a statement, alongside 90+ other organizations, to express concern with the administration’s proposed FY2027 budget, which would decrease the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget by more than 12%. As stated in the letter, “Such devastating reductions would halt promising extramural and intramural research, force layoffs of scientists and research staff, and undermine America’s global leadership in medical innovation.” You can read the complete statement on the SOT website.
Support for NIAID and NIH Budget Increases for FY2027
On March 10, 2026, SOT joined more than 60 other signatories on a letter supporting an 8.7% budget increase over FY2026 levels for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The letter was sent to the Chair and Ranking Member of both the US House and Senate Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies of the Committees on Appropriations. In the letter, it states that “this funding is critical to ensure that the nation can respond to current and future disease threats.” You can read the complete letter on the SOT website.
Support for NIH Budget Increase for FY2027
More than 550 members, including SOT, of the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research signed a letter on March 3, 2026, recommending an 8.7% budget increase for the National Institutes of Health over the FY2026 level. The letter states, “Our community is deeply grateful for the longstanding bipartisan support for NIH … Patients across the country—from urban centers to rural communities—benefit from medical research supported by the NIH, which serves as the foundation for nearly every preventive intervention, diagnostic, treatment, and cure in practice today.” You can read the complete letter on the SOT website.
Support for NIH FY2026 Budget
A letter was sent to the US House and Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, urging them to pass a budget of at least $48.7 billion for the National Institutes of Health for FY2026. Delivered on January 20, 2026, the letter was signed by SOT and more than 140 other organizations. The letter states that “NIH-supported discoveries have led to innovations that treat, cure, and prevent disease, delivering substantial medical and economic benefits to communities across the country, from new approaches to identifying and treating cancer to support for small businesses and the development of commercial biomedical innovations.” You can read the complete letter on the SOT website.
Remember that you can view recent SOT statements and policy activities on the “SOT Statements” web page. You also can find a historical record of policy activities and SOT documents, such as Annual Business Meeting presentations and Annual Meeting publications, on the “Publications and Historical Documents” web page.
This blog is being shared under the SOT Vice President’s name as part of their official duties and should not be interpreted as their personal or professional opinions.
#CollaborativeImpact