Congress 'Concerned' About NCRR

NIH's plan to establish a National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences and abolish the National Center for Research Resources has drawn some concerned inquiry from Congress. A staffer for a "key congressional committee" has sent NIH and the Department of Health and Human Services a letter requesting a long list of details about the reorganization, reports ScienceInsider. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who has signed off on the plan, recently sent a letter to the committee explaining the plan. Researchers have also expressed "concerns" about the planned reorganization, ScienceInsider says, and efforts by Francis Collins to drum up enthusiasm for the new center have drawn some criticism.