Brandeis scientists visit Capitol Hill

Researchers lobby Congress for support and funding

From left: Stella Salzer, of the American Society of Cell Biology, Melissa Blackman, Prof. James Haber, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Jennifer Beierlein and Keith Hengen

Recently, a group of Brandeis scientists traded data points for talking points and pristine labs for the austere halls of Capitol Hill to lobby Congress to support and fund research in the life sciences.  

Postdoctoral researchers Jennifer Beierlein, Keith Hengen and Melissa Blackman took part in a day of advocacy organized by the Coalition for Life Sciences, an alliance of non-profit professional scientific organizations. 

They met a number of senators, including Massachusetts Democrat Elizabeth Warren, to share their research and its implications for human health. Topics of discussion included Brandeis’ impact on local business and the value of research in the economy at local, state and national levels. 

“Senator Warren needed no convincing of the importance of the sciences and academic research,” Hengen says.  “She was delighted to reiterate her respect, support, and admiration for our work.”

Professor James Haber, director of the Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center at Brandeis, was also in the Capitol as part of the Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus. The bipartisan, bicameral caucus, organized by the Coalition for Life Sciences, works with committees and members of Congress to broaden understanding, support and funding of biomedical research issues.