The template letter outlines opposition to the proposed consolidation of the NEI into a broader Institute on Neuroscience and Brain Research and emphasizes the importance of maintaining eyes and vision as a dedicated "institute-level" priority for NIH.

Background:

As emerging leaders in ophthalmology and vision science, your voices are critical in the fight to protect the National Eye Institute (NEI) from being consolidated into a broader Institute on Neuroscience and Brain Research. This proposed restructuring—outlined in the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s NIH Reform Report and included in the House Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS) FY25 Appropriations Bill—threatens to diminish the focus and funding dedicated to vision research, undermining decades of progress in preventing blindness and treating eye diseases.

We need your help to push back against this harmful proposal by signing onto our FLIS Advocacy Letter. This letter clearly outlines why preserving NEI as an independent institute is essential for the future of vision research, patient care, and the tools we, as future physicians and researchers, will rely on to combat vision loss.

As you’re likely aware, House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers released an NIH Reform Report in June providing recommendations to structurally change and reform the NIH. Much of the report focuses on transparency and accountability, but the most significant proposal is a complete restructuring of the existing institutes at NIH from 27 Institutes and Centers down to 15. As part of this restructuring, the recommendation includes a consolidation of the NEI with the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), into a broader “National Institute on Neuroscience and Brain Research.”

In addition to this proposal being included in the E&C report, the House Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee included the consolidation recommendations in their FY25 Appropriations Bill which was passed through markup and awaits consideration of the full Committee. It's unclear at this time if the House will be able to advance this beyond the subcommittee.

We need you to take action today. Urge Congress by pushing back on the consolidation of the NEI into a broader Institute on Neuroscience and Brain Research, as this would be detrimental to the future of vision research and vision care. Thank you for your commitment to protecting sight and advancing eye health.