Comment from Alexey Ostroumov

[200.432, 200.454, 200.461, 200.206, 200.450] To Whom it May Concern: I am an assistant professor in neuroscience I am writing in my personal capacity to oppose the proposed revisions to sections 200.432, 200.454, 200.461, 200.206, and 200.450 that would restrict typical professional expenses, curtail the communication of scientific results, and place excessive scrutiny on the activities of scientists. Scientific conferences are essential for modern research because they enable collaborations that are critical for making important discoveries. In my case, conferences allow me to present new experimental findings, receive direct feedback, and connect with other laboratories working on complementary approaches. These conference activities often lead to joint experiments and shared expertise that cannot be achieved within a single institution. Flexibility in conference attendance is also important because it accelerates the discovery process. My research can produce unexpected findings that are relevant to different fields. Being able to quickly attend the appropriate conferences, receive feedback, and connect with the right scientific community is essential for translating my findings into meaningful real-world benefits. In the past year, I have published three papers in peer-reviewed academic journals. These publications are important for my career development and for sharing my findings with the scientific community and the general public. They have increased the visibility of my work in the field of addiction and neuropsychiatric disorders, led to new scientific discussions and collaborations, and helped shape ongoing research on the treatment of these conditions. If implemented, the proposed limits on conference attendance and publication costs would significantly slow my ability to carry out research. If I cannot share my findings at scientific meetings or publish them broadly, it will delay how quickly research findings can be developed into new treatments. Overall, this would likely slow progress toward the development of new treatments for brain disorders and limit their potential benefit to patients.