SBU Leaders Tapped for National APLU Panel on Strategic Research-Federal Relations Collaborations

Stony Brook University took the national stage at the 2025 Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities (APLU) Council on Governmental Affairs (CGA) and Council on Research (CoR) Joint Summer Meeting held the week of July 27 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where Stony Brook’s head of research and head of federal relations teamed up to present on a critical issue shaping the future of U.S. research institutions: the imperative for close collaboration between research leadership and federal relations to effectively secure funding and shape science policy.

Kevin Gardner, vice president for research and innovation, and Lauren Brookmeyer, associate vice president for federal relations and head of the D.C. Office, served as featured speakers in a session titled “Powering Research: SRO & Government Relations Partnership.” The session convened senior research officers (SROs) and federal relations professionals from across the country. The focus of the panel was to explore how collaborative partnerships between these roles advance research and secure competitive federal funding in a shifting policy environment.

This conversation comes at a pivotal moment for U.S. research institutions. As federal research budgets face heightened competition and evolving science and technology policy priorities, universities are adopting more coordinated strategies to secure funding and shape policy decisions.

Alongside peers from Oregon State University and Colorado State University, Gardner and Brookmeyer described how Stony Brook aligns the mission and work of its research and federal relations offices. This partnership proactively responds to challenges, maximizes funding opportunities, and strategically positions the university within national research and policy conversations.

“Our strategic partnership with Federal Relations is a force multiplier for our research mission,” said Gardner. “It allows us to compete for critical federal funding and ensure that our faculty’s work is recognized and helps shape national priorities. This collaboration is key to translating our science and innovations to drive the U.S. economy and technological advancement.”

Panelists shared practical strategies to strengthen partnerships between research and federal affairs teams, including joint advocacy planning and coordinated outreach to policymakers. Topics included navigating current federal funding challenges, communicating research impact to policymakers, and building internal processes that support nimble, aligned advocacy.

“In today’s federal environment, strong coordination between our research operations and our federal relations work isn’t just helpful — it’s essential,” said Brookmeyer. “At Stony Brook, we prioritize this internal synergy because it allows us to be more impactful externally. Our ability to secure congressional support, anticipate policy shifts, and elevate the visibility of our research depends on these partnerships.”

The session highlighted how universities can build durable frameworks for collaboration and address immediate policy concerns. These frameworks also strengthen an institution’s long-term research capacity and raise its national profile.

Gardner serves on APLU’s CoR Executive Committee, and Brookmeyer serves as chair of the CGA, highlighting Stony Brook’s leadership within the APLU community and the broader higher education landscape in Washington, D.C., as the university continues to elevate its commitment to forward-thinking, mission-driven federal advocacy.