Skip to content

Find out the winner of the Shauna M. Sorrells Grant Program

LEARN MORE

G2G Bioscience Bulletin – January 17, 2026

Federal Legislative Updates
Ohio Legislative Updates
G2G Blog

G2G Bioscience Bulletin – January 17, 2026

Back to All Posts

G2G Highlights

  • G2G Founder & CEO Liz Powell was at JP Morgan where she engaged with innovators, leaders and investors from across the healthcare and the life sciences sectors. Notably, Liz with other women’s health leaders presented the release of the Follow the Exits: Why Women’s Health Is a Smart Bet in Healthcare report. This landmark study, notes, among other conclusions, that women’s health is no longer niche, as it is a proven exit market, with $27 billion in deals in 2025. You can access the report here.
  • The campaign co-led by G2G urging Congress to reauthorize SBIR/STTR programs garnered 1300+ signatures, and was supported by over 400+ case studies of impacted business from all over the country.

Funding Opportunity

On Wednesday, ARPA-H announced its latest program, Agentic AI-Enabled Cardiovascular Care Transformation (ADVOCATE). Key highlights:
  • Aim: 24/7, holistic care system for cardiovascular disease management, by developing an agentic AI system, integrated into clinical teams, that can provide real-time guidance
  • Proposers’ Day:  January 23 in Arlington, VA with a virtual option
  • Deadlines: Solution Summary Due February 27 and Full Proposal Due April 1

Updates from Washington

Congress:

  • FY 2026 Appropriations: Congress has now completed six of the twelve appropriations bills ahead of the January 30 deadline.

    • On Thursday, the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 82-15 passed the three-bill minibus, which includes the CJS bill that funds NIST, and had cleared the House last week. It now goes to the President to be signed into law. Overall spending for these programs has decreased slightly, rejecting the large cuts proposed by the Administration in its budget proposal.
    • Another four bills will be released on Sunday, including those that fund most HHS agencies and Defense. A major sticking point in the HHS bill has been multiyear NIH grant funding, which is a priority for the Administration.
    • The bill that that would fund the Department of State, includes almost $10 billion for global health programs, including efforts to mitigate HIV/AIDS and support maternal and child health. Funding levels are lower than FY25, but higher than the cuts the Administration proposed.
  • Healthcare:
    • ACA: Senate negotiations continue for a bipartisan deal on extending premium tax credits after the House voted in favor of a clean three year extension. Lead majority negotiators Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH), have floated plans for a two-year extension paired with income caps. Despite the enrollment deadlines for 2026 ACA plans passing, major issues are unresolved, including restrictions on abortion coverage and zero-dollar premium plans.
    • Legislation: The Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, unanimously advanced four bills on lung cancer screening in women, opioid exposure, patient data protection and infant formula safety. In the House, a bipartisan coalition of members introduced legislation to ensure that children enrolled in Medicaid who have a rare disease or genetic disorder can access genomic sequencing.
  • SBIR/STTR: Senate Small Business Committee Chair Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Ranking Member Ed Markey (D-MA) are making progress towards a compromise reauthorization package. Areas of convergence include clarity on Phase III programs, large 'Strategic Breakthrough’ awards to help transition technologies out of Phase II, more transparency in foreign risk assessments, and expansion of technical and business assistance. Areas of dissonance include the length of the reauthorization and limits on multiple award applications. More details can be found here.
  • National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB): The legislative advisory entity released analysis and 83 policy proposals to modernize regulatory regimes for biotechnology products. Focus areas include medical products, plants, microorganisms and animals.
Administration & Agencies:
  • ASPR: Dr. Sean Kaufman, an infectious disease specialist who is currently at CDC, and has opposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates is expected to be nominated to lead the agency, which has not had a permanent leader since the end of the Biden Administration.
  • FDA: The agency has announced a flexible oversight approach for chemistry, manufacturing, and control (CMC) requirements for cell and gene therapies.
  • CDC:
    • Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP): Secretary Kennedy appointed Drs. Kimberly Biss and Adam Erato to ACIP. Both are OB-GYNs and have expressed skepticism of vaccine safety during pregnancy.
    • National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): The Administration has reversed course on plans to layoff most of the agency’s employees.
  • White House, Other HHS Divisions & Departments:
    • 340B Program: HHS is reconsidering implementation of its rebate model pilot that that has been stalled due to court actions brought forth by impacted hospitals.
    • Drug Pricing Deals: AbbVie became the latest drug manufacturer to come to an agreement with the Administration to avoid tariffs, in exchange for reducing prices on some products for Medicaid and the direct to consumer TrumpRx platform, as well as committing to $100 billion worth of investments in the US.
    • Grants:
      • A federal judge has issued an injunction preventing HHS from cutting funding to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), amid the organization’s criticism of Secretary Kennedy’s policies.
      • On Tuesday the Administration terminated $2 billion in grants to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) that support frontline services across the country. In response to backlash, the Administration reinstated the awards the next day.
    • The Great Healthcare Plan: On Thursday, President Trump released a healthcare policy framework, and asked Congress to pass it. Highlights include:
      • Codification of drug pricing deals the Administration made with pharmaceutical companies
      • Directing subsidies directly to consumers to buy health insurance, funding for cost sharing reduction for insurance plans, and reducing the role of pharmacy benefit managers
      • Requiring insurers and providers to publish prices and information in ‘Plain English'
      • Exclusion of the ACA tax credits