Advocacy Programs Subcommittee

The Advocacy Programs Subcommittee is responsible for planning and hosting two programs:

AAI Research Advocacy Program (RAP), conducted at the AAI annual meeting, or in the Washington, D.C., area. The subcommittee:

• oversees the program
• selects invitees and recommends program participants
• prepares and gives presentations to teach program participants about the immune system
• undertakes other tasks related to making the program successful

The RAP may take place annually or less frequently, and may be modified to address AAI advocacy goals.

AAI Public Policy Fellows Program (PPFP)
The subcommittee:

• oversees the application process
• reviews submitted applications and recommends participants to the full CPA
• assists in the planning of Capitol Hill Day
• undertakes other tasks related to making the program successful

2017-2018 Subcommittee Members

Lisa Borghesi, Chair
Judy Cannon
Ling Cao
David Chaplin
Peter Jensen
Ross Kedl
Beth Garvy, ex officio

NIH Subcommittee

The NIH Subcommittee is responsible for analyzing NIH programs/activities and for recommending actions/positions to the CPA on designated issues involving NIH, and in particular:

• grant submission and peer review
• grant mechanisms and funding distribution
• organizational structure
• scientific priorities, including portfolio analysis
• other topics to be determined by the CPA and subcommittee chairs

2017-2018 Subcommittee Members

David Chaplin, Chair
Judy Cannon
Jonathan Harton
Peter Jensen
Linda Thompson
Beth Garvy, ex officio

Public Health and Biosecurity Subcommittee

The Public Health and Biosecurity Subcommittee monitors and responds where appropriate to potential legislative, regulatory or policy changes affecting the following areas:

• Biosecurity laboratories (including personnel issues)
• Bioterrorism/“dual use research”(life sciences research that can be used for nefarious purposes)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (including appropriations for the CDC immunology program); fostering better relations with CDC/CDC scientists; and alerting relevant CDC scientists to the value of AAI membership
• Pandemics/influenza
• Public health (as relates to immunology)
• Radiological monitoring
• Select agents and toxins
• Vaccines

2017-2018 Subcommittee Members

Jonathan Harton, Chair
Lisa Borghesi
Ling Cao
Ross Kedl
Linda Thompson
Beth Garvy, ex officio

1. Advocate for increased and predictable funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other relevant federal funding organizations. Explain the harm caused by sequestration and inflation.
2. Advocate for increased immunological research and explain its importance to preventing, treating, and curing disease.
3. Monitor, advocate, and/or comment on federal legislation/federal agency actions impacting immunologists and/or biomedical research, including legislation/actions which may affect
   • the AAI publications: The Journal of Immunology and/or ImmunoHorizons;
   • the NIH peer review process;
   • the NIH portfolio (particularly the balance between basic and clinical or translational research, and between individual investigator-initiated research and “big science”);
   • the national priority areas of biodefense and pandemic research; and
   • the nation’s ability to train, and address the future needs of, a diverse scientific workforce.
4. Support and promote the ability of scientists to use animals in research in a humane manner.
5. Identify and help inform members of Congress sympathetic to AAI issues and encourage them to take on leadership roles in the area of biomedical research.
6. Maintain existing and foster new relationships with key NIH officials.
7. Work in coalition with FASEB, other scientific societies, and other organizations to advance the AAI agenda, and work to develop ties with patient advocacy organizations.
8. Report to and consult with the AAI Council on a regular basis to ensure that the AAI leadership is apprised of issues and activities of the CPA.
9. Engage each member of the CPA on issue(s) of interest to him/her and to the AAI membership, and encourage each member to “take the lead” in identified area of interest.
10. Inform the AAI membership of committee activities and of issues important to the conduct of research; encourage AAI members, particularly trainees and early-career members, to become advocates for the profession.
11. Inform the AAI Public Policy Fellows (PPFs) about policy issues of importance to AAI members, and engage them as appropriate.