Although these restrictions--including additional restrictions on taking annual leave in conjunction with travel--went nearly unnoticed for several months, by June, members of scientific societies were up in arms, realizing that the rules could have a major impact on scientific meetings. Martin Frank, executive director of the American Physiological Society (APS) in Bethesda, Md., points out that of the approximately 11,000 attendees at their annual spring meeting, 300 came from the NIH. He explained the conundrum of one NIH researcher who was planning to attend an international physiology congress to be held in Christchurch, New Zealand, in August. The researcher is going to a satellite meeting that is a week before the congress. "According to the rules," notes Frank, "he would have to fly back and return to New Zealand by the next meeting" and would be unable to take annual leave days to remain in New Zealand between meetings.
HHS ...
