Death. Taxes. Change. These are among the few certainties in life that, at best, can evoke feelings of discomfort and, at worst, finality. Over the past few weeks, in response to the whiplash changes directed to federal sponsors, many members of our research community have reached out expressing emotions from across the spectrum. As nurses and nurse allies, we are trained experts at helping people manage transitions associated with change. Hard change. Existential change. Permanent change. Though much remains to be adjudicated, we at the Office for Nursing Research & Innovation have no doubt that the federal research landscape is undergoing a permanent transformation.
Mourning what used to be and experiencing anxiety and fear of what might become is a normal response in times of great change. What remains steady in the wake of this shift is our unfailing commitment to continuing to pull together and support the research needs across our communities. Indeed, President Cauce’s January 27 message detailed a number of resources to support our principal investigators, which we encourage everyone to take advantage of.
As we continue to navigate this evolving landscape, know that the Office for Nursing Research & Innovation is working closely with the UW Office of Research. We will continue to monitor all federal administrative developments for implications affecting the School of Nursing research portfolio. At this time, we have no evidence that our portfolio is being impacted; however, if that changes, please know that we are here to work with your research teams to navigate that change. We will reach out directly to investigators (please, please read your emails) if we have evidence indicating an impact on the School of Nursing, but we also encourage you to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns about any aspect of your current or hoped-for future research. To this end, we launched weekly Open Zoom Offices to help researchers navigate ongoing federal administrative changes affecting the research lifecycle of their projects.
We know many of you have an urge to do something, anything during times of tumult. While it might be challenging due to the distractions arising daily, to the extent possible, we encourage you to stay focused on conducting your approved research. Completing high-impact, quality science and communicating how your study advances the public’s health is the single best action we can take at this moment. As scholars, nurses and community leaders, it is up to us to define our scientific impact and not let others define it for us.
Another certainty in life is that the sun will rise. From the darkest point of night, the sky gradually transitions through twilight, eventually yielding as dawn arrives in spectacular and predictable fashion. As we transition to the dawn of a new era of research, please know that we are here to support you, your research teams and the diverse communities our research serves every step of the way.
— Allison R. Webel, PhD, RN, FAAN