NIMH and the NAMHC Workgroup
Our concern about the state of basic behavioral science research at the National Institutes of Health was aroused at the September 2003 meeting of NIMH's National Advisory Mental Health Council (NAMHC), when NIMH Director Tom Insel announced his intentions to assess and potentially reorganize the Institute's priorities for basic research in mental health. Since that meeting, the Federation has been paying close attention to NIMH's plans, and has actively participated in activities linked to this reprioritization process.
 
Following Dr. Insel's reprioritization announcement, the NAMHC Workgroup was created, chaired by Dr. Alan Leshner (CEO, American Association for the Advancement of Science). Workgroup membership was comprised members of the NAMHC and members of the outside research community; many of these outside members were nominated for workgroup positions by the Federation and APA.  Workgroup meetings began in January 2004 and were, despite written requests from the Federation and other scientific societies, closed to the public.

The workgroup had two subgroups, one of which assessed the basic behavioral and cognitive sciences at NIMH, the other assessing NIMH's molecular and cellular research.  Both groups were asked to review the Institute's existing portfolio, highlight the opportunities for new research, and identify redundancies and areas of irrelevance to the NIMH mission, and identify gaps in the portfolio.

NAMHC Workgroup's final report
Federation societies' statements in support of basic behavioral science research
Federation's letter requesting open Workgroup meetings

NIH-Wide Workgroup on Basic Research Opportunities in Basic Behavioral and Social Sciences
At around the same time that the NAMHC Workgroup was completing it's work, the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health brought together a group of scientists and NIH staff in order to evaluate  the status of basic behavioral sciences at the NIH.  The creation of this group, which was an official advisory committee to the Director of NIH (ACD) was spurred by repeated congressional requests to NIH for the inclusion of behavioral science funding at the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) and by the recently shifted priorities of NIMH, which resulted in decreased funding for basic research in our sciences. This second Workgroup, chaired by Dr. Linda Waite (University of Chicago), was asked to evaluate and discuss research not linked to a particular disease and to ascertain the role of basic behavioral science NIH-wide.  The group met several times throughout 2004, with their work culminating in a final report and presentation to the Director's Advisory Council at the end of the year.

In response to the 2004 release of a special NIH Working Group report on “Research Opportunities in the Basic Behavioral and Social Sciences,” the Federation organized an ad hoc committee of psychological researchers to explore the potential health relevance of basic research. In May 2005, this committee met with federal agency leaders to discuss the future of basic behavioral research funding.

ACD Report on Research Opportunities in the Basic Behavioral and Social Sciences
Federation creates ad hoc group to address officials at NIH and OSTP
Federation Ad Hoc group's document on health relevance of basic behavioral research