Visits to the National Institutes of Health

The Sleep Research Society Board of Directors frequently requests that Board members attend meetings and functions at the National Institutes of Health and other governmental agencies. The following are guidelines and suggestions for visiting governmental agencies and reporting back to the SRS Board of Directors:

Primary Purposes of SRS Representation

• Identify key NIH personnel to the Sleep Research Society Board of Directors
• Identify themes and philosophies that characterize the particular NIH institute or entity
• Demonstrate to the NIH that the SRS is observing NIH activities and policy development

Guidelines for Conduct

Attending governmental meetings and functions is for the purpose of advancing the interests of the SRS, not furthering your own career. For example, there should be no attempt to lobby for particular applications.

Notify the proper office that you will be coming to the event as a representative of the Sleep Research Society. Wear a name tag indicating SRS affiliation and make a list of NIH staff with whom you plan to meet.

Reporting to the SRS

A report to the SRS Governmental Affairs Committee on a visit to the NIH or any governmental agency should include the following key elements:

• Meeting specifics (e.g. as published on the internet)
• Meeting agenda (e.g. as published on the internet)
• A candid and confidential assessment of the relevance of the NIH event to sleep research. This should include an assessment of the interest the NIH entity has in sleep research and future opportunities to increase support of sleep research.