White House Unveils PFAS Research Strategy
On September 3, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released a new strategy for federal research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), so-called "forever chemicals," that are associated with certain cancers and other health issues.
The plan aims to expand research into how Americans are exposed to these chemicals and how to safely dispose of them. The strategy aims to deliver high-quality scientific data to guide federal government actions to reduce and prevent PFAS contamination and its health effects; effectively communicate PFAS research to affected communities; identify technologies for remediating PFAS pollution; and provide actionable information on PFAS alternatives that federal agencies, manufacturers, and consumers can use to make informed decisions.
The plan outlines 5 research and development strategies to address the identified knowledge gaps:
- Investigate the pathways through which PFAS exposure occurs in individuals and communities;
- Overcome challenges in PFAS measurement by developing standards, advanced sampling techniques, and improved analytical methods;
- Study the toxicological mechanisms, health impacts, and risks associated with PFAS exposure on humans and the environment;
- Develop, test, and demonstrate technologies for the removal, destruction, and safe disposal of PFAS; and
- Identify alternatives to PFAS and assess their effects on human health and the environment.
One aspect the plan focuses on is improving the understanding of the toxicity of various kinds of PFAS. It recommends developing "scientifically supported classification schemes" to group PFAS based on their effects on human health and the environment. This approach could help agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulate groups of PFAS instead of each chemical individually. Although the EPA has set drinking water limits for six well-known PFAS, some scientists advocate regulating PFAS as a class due to the vast number of variants. This strategy could streamline regulatory efforts by establishing toxicological reference values for PFAS classes.
NIH Shares Decision Matrix for Assessing Potential Foreign Interference
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has introduced a decision matrix to assess potential foreign interference, with the goal of enhancing transparency about its policies. The matrix builds on existing guidelines and clarifies how NIH decides when to contact institutions for additional information on foreign interference allegations.
The decision matrix serves as a decision tree to guide institutions and researchers in understanding grant policies related to disclosure and transparency. It describes how disclosures of current and pending other support are used by NIH, outlines allowable activities, provides examples of overlap and problematic activities, and details NIH's approach to foreign interference compliance reviews.
Routine academic activities like writing recommendation letters, serving on peer review and advisory panels, co-authoring publications, lecturing, receiving foreign honors, and participating in foreign research grants are allowed, provided there is no undisclosed conflict or scientific or budgetary overlap with NIH-funded work.
NIH Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli has emphasized that the agency's grant compliance and oversight efforts will focus on objective behaviors while rejecting targeting, discrimination, and harassment. "We will continue to ensure that these compliance reviews do not stigmatize or unfairly treat members of the research community, including members of ethnic or racial minority groups, or discriminate with respect to national origin or identity," reads a blogpost accompanying the matrix's release.
Report Calls on New Strategy to Recruit, Retain STEM Talent
A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends the U.S. adopt a whole-of-government strategy to recruit and retain talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
The report studied programs that recruit and retain international STEM talent in the United States and abroad and makes several recommendations to the U.S. government, universities, and civil society. It highlights the critical role of foreign-born talent in maintaining U.S. innovation, competitiveness, and national security, but warns of challenges such as global competition, complex immigration processes, and a lack of cohesive talent strategy.
Key recommendations include streamlining immigration pathways, authorizing additional green cards, and reducing barriers that limit the number of international STEM talent who can come to or stay in the U.S. The report also stresses the importance of developing domestic STEM talent across all educational stages. It advises federal agencies to assess risks in international research collaborations transparently and avoid discriminatory practices that target specific ethnic groups, referencing concerns from the former China Initiative.
The report urges the U.S. government to work with universities and industry to support international research collaborations while ensuring research security. It calls for stronger partnerships with trusted allies, a public-facing dashboard for tracking talent metrics, and retaining existing foreign-born STEM experts vital to national interest. The study was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense.
NSF Announces New Research Centers on Pandemic Prevention, Biotechnology
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $72 million for four new centers focused on pandemic prediction and prevention. The projects, funded by the Predictive Intelligence for Pandemic Prevention (PIPP) program, will bring together the multidisciplinary research and training, technology and data, and sustained collaboration needed to address the societal challenge and develop effective prevention strategies.
These team-based centers aim to speed up research and development to predict and mitigate future pandemics, whether they originate in animals, plants, or humans. The projects will bring together experts from biological, computer, information, engineering, mathematical, physical, and social sciences and focus on three key areas: environmental surveillance, data-driven decision-making, and understanding host-pathogen interactions. Given the complexity of public health emergencies, interdisciplinary collaboration will be essential. Learn more about the 4 new centers.
In addition, NSF has announced a five-year $104 million investment in four new engineering research centers focused on biotechnology, manufacturing, robotics, and sustainability. "The new centers will develop technologies to tackle the carbon challenge, expand physical capabilities, make heating and cooling more sustainable, and enable the U.S. supply and manufacturing of natural rubber," the agency stated. One of these projects aims to integrate engineering with biology, biotechnology, and agriculture to revolutionize alternative natural rubber production in the U.S.
AIBS Signs Letter Thanking Senate Appropriators for Proposing $2 Billion Increase for NIH
AIBS joined more than 200 organizations, institutions, and individuals in sending a letter to Senate Appropriations leadership thanking them for championing the proposed increase of nearly $2 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in fiscal year (FY) 2025.
The letter reads, in part: "Your efforts prior to this legislation -- and the additional research progress made possible if this funding increase is signed into law -- will be felt across time and generations. Not only does U.S. research investment seed enduringly beneficial medical advances, but it also enables scientists across the country to gain the foundational knowledge needed to empower unimagined breakthroughs going forward."
NSF Virtual Office Hour on Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology
Join the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) at the National Science Foundation (NSF) on Thursday, September 19, 1:00-2:00 PM ET for their next Virtual Office Hour with staff from NSF's Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) program. Program officers will share information about the PRFB program and its application process, and address questions.
Later stage graduate students, new postdocs, as well as prospective mentors are encouraged to attend. Register to participate.
BioScience Talks Episode on Long-Term Coral Reef Monitoring
The latest episode of BioScience Talks features a conversation with Peter Edmunds, Professor of Biology at California State University, Northridge, where he has worked for over 30 years. He discusses his recent article in BioScience's new Perspective and Insight category, entitled "Why keep monitoring coral reefs?". The article describes a now 38-year study of coral reefs in the US Virgin Islands and highlights the value of long-term ecological monitoring.
Deadline Approaching: Enter the 14th Annual Faces of Biology Photo Contest
Enter the Faces of Biology Photo Contest for a chance to win $250 and to have your photo appear on the cover of the journal BioScience.
The competition showcases, in a personal way, biological research in its many forms and settings. The images help the public and policymakers better understand the value of biological research and education. The competition is sponsored by the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology in addition to the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS).
"Photography is an effective tool to help communicate the process of scientific research," said Scott Glisson, CEO of AIBS. "This contest provides a visual forum for expression, inspiration, and technical skill that can have a positive impact on how the public views research and science."
The theme of the contest is "Faces of Biology." Photographs entered into the competition must depict a person, such as a scientist, technician, or student, engaging in biological research. The depicted research may occur outside, in a lab, with a natural history collection, on a computer, in a classroom, or elsewhere.
The winning photos from the 2023 contest were featured in the April 2024 issue of BioScience.
Submissions must be received by 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 30, 2024. For more information or to enter the contest, visit our website.
Short Takes
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The National Science Board-National Science Foundation (NSF) Commission on Merit Review is requesting input from stakeholders to inform the their review of NSF's merit review criteria, policy and processes. Comments are requested online on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, September 20, 2024. This dear colleague letter provides further information.
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AIBS member iDigBio has announced that the inaugural Biodiversity Digitization Conference will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on September 23-25, 2025. This event will combine themes from iDigBio's two annual conferences: the Digital Data in Biodiversity Research Conference and BioDigiCon. The overarching themes for the conference are workforce development, capacity building, and enhancement for all phases of the Biodiversity Specimen Digitization Value Chain.
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Join the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for a report release webinar on September 13, 2024 at 2:00 -3:00 PM ET on Phase 2 of the Community Wastewater-based Infectious Disease Surveillance project. The report examines the technical constraints and opportunities to improve wastewater surveillance for the prevention and control of infectious diseases in the U.S. The webinar will feature key messages and recommendations from the report.
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The 2025 Botany Conference will take place in Tucson, Arizona, July 26 - 30, 2025 and will include six participating organizations. This year's theme is "Botany without Barriers." The call for symposia, colloquia, and workshop proposals is now open. The deadline is October 1, 2024 for Symposia and Colloquia submissions and December 15, 2024 for workshops. For more information, visit 2025.botanyconference.org.
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The National Academies are seeking recommendations for experts for a study to evaluate the ethical, legal, environmental, safety, security, and other societal issues related to engineering biology, and make recommendations on research needs related to these issues and means to effectively incorporate their consideration into research practice. Submissions are requested by October 16, 2024. Learn more.
From the Federal Register
The following items appeared in the Federal Register from August 26 to September 6, 2024.
Commerce
Environmental Protection Agency
Health and Human Services
Interior
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Science Foundation
