NIH Director Draws Bipartisan Scrutiny at Senate Hearing
At a February 3 hearing, members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee sharply criticized National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya over disruptions to biomedical research during his first 10 months under the Trump Administration. Lawmakers from both parties cited grant terminations and delays, halted clinical trials, workforce losses, and controversial vaccine policy signals as undermining public health and U.S. research leadership.
A key area of contention was Bhattacharya's role in a Health and Human Services memo, issued under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calling for a reduced childhood vaccine schedule. While Bhattacharya said the goal was to rebuild public trust, committee chair Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) warned the changes could increase preventable diseases, citing recent measles deaths among unvaccinated children. Democrats also pressed Bhattacharya on vaccine safety; he said there is no evidence linking measles vaccination to autism but later added that "other vaccines are less well studied."
Lawmakers also criticized NIH's termination of more than 1000 grants on Alzheimer's disease, HIV, vaccines, and other topics due to their connection to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). "We can get rid of DEI without upending lifesaving research and America's biomedical leadership," Cassidy said. Democrats cited analyses showing hundreds of clinical trials paused or halted, affecting 74,000 patients. Bhattacharya disputed those figures, saying most grants were reinstated after revisions and that only about a dozen trials were ultimately terminated.
Bhattacharya defended the agency's direction, saying NIH is restoring operations, filling vacancies, and improving efficiency. He confirmed NIH has halted support for gain-of-function research and defended cuts to mRNA vaccine programs, while noting continued support for mRNA cancer research.
Additional concerns included a multiyear funding policy that lawmakers said reduced the number of new grants, a sharp drop in NIH staffing, and expedited leadership hiring without traditional search committees. Senators warned these moves could drive young scientists overseas and weaken U.S. biomedical leadership.
NSF BIO Virtual Office Hour on February 18
The Biological Sciences (BIO) Directorate at the National Science Foundation (NSF) is holding another virtual office hour on February 18, 2026 at 1:00-2:00 PM ET. Staff from BIO will provide a brief webinar presentation focused on merit review, which will be followed by a question and answer session.
At a previous virtual office hour held in December, BIO officials shared updates about the ongoing reorganization at the directorate, including plans to replace its five existing divisions with three thematic areas: Foundations of Life, Living Systems, and Bioinnovation & Infrastructure.
Register here for the upcoming webinar. The event will not be recorded but presentation slides may be provided after the event on the NSF events page.
NSB Shares 2026 Priorities in New Year's Statement
The National Science Board (NSB)--the National Science Foundation's (NSF) governing body--recently released a statement titled "Extraordinary Possibility" highlighting its achievements over the past year and outlining its priorities for 2026.
The statement underscored NSB's focus on realizing a "next generation NSF" to strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. The Board highlighted its 2025 accomplishments--including NSF's 75th anniversary, updates to Science & Engineering Indicators, merit review reforms, and expanded engagement with policymakers and national security leaders--and emphasized the need to "move faster," partner more effectively, and better translate research into impact.
In 2026, NSB plans to prioritize fundamental research and education aligned with national security and economic needs; expand strategic partnerships across federal agencies and sectors; advance multisector STEM workforce development; and explore creation of a nonprofit foundation to facilitate industry and philanthropic partnerships. The Board also plans to leverage "capitalize on merit review reforms" to leverage diverse expertise, strengthen collaboration with NSF leadership, and build NSF's capacity to deliver national and societal outcomes, positioning the agency to help drive a "Golden Age of American Innovation."
NIH Eases Clinical Trial Requirements for Some Human Research
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced a significant policy change: basic experimental studies involving human participants will no longer be required to meet NIH's formal definition of a "clinical trial."
The decision is intended to reduce administrative burden, particularly for researchers in fields such as behavioral and cognitive psychology, who have long argued that clinical trial requirements were poorly aligned with foundational research. Investigators reported that the rules created confusion in grant applications, inconsistent peer review, and excessive paperwork, especially for projects involving multiple experiments.
Many in the research community have welcomed the change as a practical step toward streamlining NIH funding processes. However, the decision has also raised concerns about research transparency. Some argue that the clinical trial designation played an important role in ensuring public reporting of human-subject studies, including those with negative results that are less likely to be published in academic journals. They warn that relaxing the requirements could reduce accountability and complicate efforts to replicate findings.
NIH has emphasized that transparency mechanisms remain available. Although registration and results reporting will no longer be mandatory for these studies, researchers may still voluntarily register their work and deposit results, preserving a pathway for public access to study information.
AIBS Meeting: Sustaining Science in an Uncertain Funding Landscape
Representatives, officers, board members, staff, and students affiliated with AIBS member societies and organizations are invited to join AIBS for a candid conversation about strategically navigating today's tumultuous and evolving funding landscape.
Topic: Sustaining Science in an Uncertain Funding Landscape
Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026, 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
Location: Online
Invited Speakers:
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Dr. Lisa Clough, Vice Chancellor for Research, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
- Dr. Dan Thornhill, Program Officer, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
Having previously served in leadership roles at the National Science Foundation (NSF), Drs. Clough and Thornhill will share their perspectives on the new rules of science funding, strategies for securing non-traditional support, and practical advice for adapting to recent changes at the federal level.
Register now.
Participate in the 2026 Congressional Visits Day
Join the American Institute of Biological Sciences on April 20-22, 2026 for our annual Congressional Visits Day in Washington, DC.
Meet with your members of Congress to help them understand the important role the federal government plays in supporting the biological sciences. Advocate for federal investments in biological sciences research supported by the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies.
Participants will complete a communications and advocacy training program provided by AIBS that prepares them to be effective advocates for their science. AIBS will provide participants with background information and materials, as well as arrange meetings with lawmakers on April 22.
Who should participate?
Scientists, graduate students, educators, or other biological science community members who are interested in advocating for scientific research and education are encouraged to participate in this important event.
The ideal participant will:
- Have an interest in science policy.
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Work in a scientific profession or be enrolled in graduate school.
- Be able to speak about the importance of biological research funded by federal agencies (e.g. NSF, NIH, USDA).
- Provide compelling examples from their own experiences.
Training
The event includes a free, half-day training session on how to be an effective advocate for science policy. This training session will be held on April 21, 2026 and is mandatory for everyone who will be participating in congressional meetings.
Additionally, participants have the option to attend the highly acclaimed AIBS Communications Boot Camp for Scientists. This training course will be held in Washington, DC on April 20-21, 2026. This professional development program provides practical instruction and interactive exercises designed to help scientists (e.g. researchers, graduate students, administrators, educators) translate scientific information for non-technical audiences and to effectively engage with decision-makers and the news media. All participants who complete this optional training will receive priority access to the Congressional Visits Day and a certificate of completion indicating that they have successfully completed 16 hours of communications training.
Registration
Express your interest in participating in the event by registering. Registration closes on February 23, 2026. Space is limited and we encourage you to register early. If registrations exceed program capacity, AIBS may prioritize registrants based on participation in the boot camp training, geographic diversity, and other factors. Register now.
Short Takes
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According to a new analysis from Science, more than 10,000 doctoral-trained experts in science and related fields have left government service since President Trump took office. This trend has been particularly pronounced at the National Science Foundation, which saw a net reduction of 205 STEM Ph.D.s between January 1 and November 30. This loss represents 40% of the agency's pre-transition doctoral workforce--the largest percentage decrease recorded at any federal agency.
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A new study by Attain Partners, commissioned by the Association of American Universities (AAU) and COGR, finds that universities are reimbursed a smaller share of their indirect research costs than federal labs and private industry, and routinely subsidize federally funded research with their own funds. The analysis undercuts claims that university indirect cost rates are excessive and supports the proposed FAIR model as a transparent alternative to proposed 15% caps that could significantly harm the U.S. research enterprise.
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The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released a report last month enumerating the science and technology achievements of the Trump Administration in its first year. The report highlighted their Gold Standard Science policy; the Genesis Mission, an effort to advance scientific research using AI, which includes "deploying AI-driven biotechnology"; the AI Action Plan; and research security efforts, among other policies.
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NIH has paused new submissions to its Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry while it evaluates whether emerging alternatives can reduce or replace reliance on human embryonic stem cell (hESC) in NIH-funded research. Previously approved hESC lines remain eligible for use, but derivation of hESCs from human embryos continues to be prohibited in NIH-supported research. NIH is seeking public input through April 24, 2026, on research areas where hESCs remain essential versus where validated nonembryonic models could serve as substitutes.
- Representatives Neal Dunn (R-FL) and Lori Trahan (D-MA) are requesting information on legislation to reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), which guides federal preparedness and response to pandemics and other health emergencies. The deadline for submissions is February 17.
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The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the 21 members of the newly established Office of Science Advisory Committee that will provide "independent advice on complex scientific and technical challenges across the Department's Office of Science." The new members, selected by DOE Undersecretary for Science Darío Gil, include representatives from academia, industry, philanthropy and the national labs.
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Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Salud Carbajal (D-CA) have introduced legislation to extend and expand a federal effort to boost pollinator habitat along roads and highways. The bill (S. 3673) would reauthorize the program--originally created under the bipartisan infrastructure law--through 2031, open participation to nonprofits, and update application and funding processes. Sponsors stressed that creating roadside pollinator habitat is crucial as monarch butterflies and other pollinators face steep population declines that threaten ecosystems, agriculture, and the food supply.
