Executive Director Update – October 2026

An Important Election and a Critical Stretch for Vision Research

As we approach the final months of 2026, the Alliance for Vision Research is preparing for what promises to be a busy and consequential end to the year for federal research funding and policy.

With the midterm elections just a week away and the current continuing resolution (CR) set to expire on December 11, considerable uncertainty remains about how and when Congress will finalize fiscal year 2027 (FY27) funding decisions. The November 3 elections could significantly change Congress’s makeup, with control of the House of Representatives and potentially the Senate in play. Those outcomes will influence congressional leadership, committee priorities, and the direction of federal funding discussions in the months ahead.

While Congress could reach a final FY27 funding agreement during its post-election session, a compressed legislative calendar, competing priorities, and potential shifts in congressional control make another short-term CR increasingly likely. Such an extension could push final funding decisions into 2027, placing responsibility for completing the appropriations process in the hands of the newly seated 120th Congress (and whatever party controls each chamber).

For the vision research community, this uncertainty has real consequences. Continued reliance on short-term funding measures makes it more difficult for federal agencies, research institutions, and investigators to plan, sustain research programs, and invest in new scientific opportunities. Stable, predictable funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including the National Eye Institute (NEI), is essential to supporting the discoveries that lead to better treatments, new technologies, and ultimately improved outcomes for patients. The House published a report earlier this year recommending level funding for NEI, while the Senate (usually more favorable) didn’t produce a report this year, so the Senate’s funding priorities for NIH and NEI are currently unknown.

That is also why next week’s elections matter! Regardless of political affiliation, we encourage everyone in the vision research community to exercise their right to vote and to consider where candidates stand on supporting biomedical research, scientific innovation, and sustained federal investment in NIH. Historically, support for medical research has been a bipartisan priority, and maintaining that commitment will be especially important as a new Congress takes shape.

Earlier this year, more than 180 members of the House and 50 senators signed bipartisan letters encouraging congressional appropriators to prioritize NIH funding in FY27. The House letter called for at least $51.3 billion for NIH, while the Senate letter urged continued strong support for the agency. These letters provide a useful opportunity to recognize members who have demonstrated their commitment to biomedical research and to encourage others to do the same.

You can review the FY27 House and Senate NIH support letters and their congressional signatories through AAMC. While some members who didn’t sign may chair key committees or have restrictions on sign-on letters, this can give you a good understanding of where members of Congress stand on NIH funding.

As we navigate the remainder of the year, the Alliance will continue working with policymakers on both sides of the aisle to advocate for increased NIH and NEI funding, protect the integrity of scientific peer review, support research funding stability and restoring forward funding to historical levels, and address federal regulatory proposals that continue to be pursued or introduced that would affect the biomedical research enterprise.

Our advocacy extends beyond securing federal research dollars. We are committed to strengthening the entire vision research ecosystem, from basic discovery and translational research through clinical development and the delivery of new treatments, technologies, and innovations that preserve and restore sight.

The coming weeks and months will bring challenges, but also opportunities to reinforce the importance of vision research with returning and newly elected members of Congress. With continued engagement from our members, partners, researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates, we will work to ensure that vision research remains a national priority, regardless of which party controls Congress.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement in our mission.

incerely,

Dan Ignaszewski
Executive Director
Alliance for Vision Research