Dear Colleagues:
Like all of you, we watched with considerable concern the events over the last week unfold. The new Administration issued a series of Executive Orders (EOs), many with direct impacts to the research, science, and education communities. These included, but were not limited to, eliminating DEI programs and initiatives in the Federal Government, rescinding the previous Administration’s EOs related to advancing racial equity, and instructing the US Government to withdraw from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement. Additionally, HHS imposed a freeze on all external communications until February 1st and an indefinite ban on travel for HHS/NIH employees, as described in Science. And now the latest, as of January 27, 2025, a temporary pause on ALL federal grants.
The communications freeze alone disrupted critical activities such as research grants, study sections, external meetings, and even CDC’s indispensable MMWR publication. An NIDCR Council meeting last week was postponed while many of us were watching the videocast as described in a recent Washington Post article. The temporary pause on all federal grants is very concerning and the polar opposite of what is typically a bipartisan issue, which is the support for medical research.
We are following these developments very closely and collaborating with the broader science and health advocacy coalitions in Washington, DC to strategically respond where we can make a difference.
Meanwhile, our commitment to our values such as the AADOCR Diversity and Inclusion Statement and the IADR Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging Statement will continue to guide us. IADR and AADOCR remain committed to supporting programs that enhance the pathways to research careers. Further, we will continue to advocate for the United States’ role in global health and the IADR will continue to engage with the WHO on implementation of the Global Oral Health Action Plan and other initiatives.
More than ever, we must stay engaged in the political process. We invite each of you to participate in the AADOCR/ADEA/FNIDCR Advocacy Day on April 2-3, 2025. The deadline to register is February 28, 2025. If you are unable to attend, please reach out to the local offices of your federal representatives and make sure they know about the important research being conducted in your lab and at your institution.
Although we don’t have many answers yet, we pledge to you that we will work tirelessly with our dedicated Board of Directors, volunteer leaders, and our professional staff to mitigate any actions that hinder our mission of driving dental, oral, and craniofacial research to advance health and well-being.
Sincerely,
Christopher Fox, CEO IADR and AADOCR
Effie Ioannidou, AADOCR President
