NIH Director Acknowledges Impact of Probe on Asian Researchers
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director, Monica Bertagnolli, has formally recognized that the agency's six-year investigation into unreported foreign ties among NIH grantees has inadvertently created "a difficult climate for our valued Asian American, Asian immigrant and Asian research colleagues who may feel targeted and alienated." This acknowledgment comes as the NIH continues its efforts to address foreign interference, which began during the Trump Administration's "China Initiative" aimed at preventing intellectual property theft.
Dr. Bertagnolli's statement highlights the agency's commitment to repairing relationships with affected researchers by clarifying policies and releasing new reporting guidelines. She emphasized that while NIH is committed to upholding research integrity, it is also dedicated to maintaining strong, supportive relationships with Asian researchers and ensuring a diverse and inclusive research environment.
NIH plans to implement actions that balance research security with inclusivity, including new research security training programs, guidelines for malign foreign talent recruitment programs, and improved disclosure forms. These measures aim to protect the integrity of NIH-funded research while fostering international scientific collaboration.
The move is seen as a positive step by organizations like the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), which appreciates the increased transparency and specificity of the new guidelines, Science Insider reported. However, some scientists and advocacy groups argue that the response is insufficient. Critics point out that the NIH has not apologized for the distress and career damage caused to researchers, with some feeling that the agency's actions amounted to racial profiling.
NSF, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation Double Investments in Conservation Projects
The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation are investing $16 million in 10 projects through the Partnership to Advance Conservation Science and Practice (PACSP) program. This initiative, now in its second year, aims to bridge basic scientific research with practical conservation efforts.
The funded projects cover a wide range of ecosystems and species, from grizzly bears to Venus flytraps, addressing key knowledge gaps to enhance real-world conservation impact. This year's PACSP solicitation also includes a TOOLS track to support the creation of new technologies for conservation or new applications of existing conservation technologies. Nearly half of the funded projects involve creating or applying new conservation technologies, including AI and genotyping.
"The unique partnerships this program creates forge a roadmap to broader conservation action by uniting the skills, expertise and tools needed to address the most urgent threats to our natural world," said Susan Marqusee, NSF Assistant Director for Biological Sciences. "These projects also will engage the public, policymakers, law enforcement and others in conservation through education, outreach and other broader impacts." Learn more about the funded projects.
NIH Shares Resource on the Responsible Use of AI
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Science Policy (OSP) has shared a new resource that includes policy considerations, best practices, and regulations to assist the research community in understanding how NIH policies guide artificial intelligence (AI)-related research.
The resource is designed to demonstrate how existing policies and guidance apply to research involving AI technologies. These include policies related to research participant protections, data management and sharing, intellectual property, health information privacy, peer review, biosecurity, and biosafety.
"An important thing to keep in mind is that NIH's current policy landscape is well positioned to ensure the responsible use of AI technologies," writes NIH Associate Director for Science Policy Dr. Lyric Jorgenson in a blogpost. "However, as a policy office, we know that sometimes new policies are indeed warranted to capture new risks as science and technology progresses. NIH is committed to monitoring the field of AI and other emerging technologies and we will continue to update this resource to make sure we are keeping pace from a policy perspective."
The resource is available on the NIH website. Questions on the resource may be sent to SciencePolicy@od.nih.gov.
NASA Invests in Projects Advancing STEM Career Development
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has awarded $6 million to 20 teams from emerging research institutions across the U.S. to support projects that provide career development opportunities for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students.
This funding is part of the third round of the agency's MOSAICS (Mentoring and Opportunities in?STEM with Academic Institutions for Community Success) program, which aims to broaden access to NASA research opportunities and build connections between NASA and diverse academic institutions, including minority-serving and primarily undergraduate institutions. NASA's Science Mission Directorate runs the MOSAICS program, which funds research projects building relationships between college faculty and researchers at the agency while providing mentorship and training for students in STEM disciplines.
The program has now funded 44 projects across 36 institutions in 21 U.S. states and territories. A new funding opportunity is open until March 28, 2025.
NIH Requests Input on Implementing Recommendations on Postdoctoral Training
NIH has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input from the biomedical research community on improving U.S. postdoctoral research training and career development, based on recommendations from a December 2023 report by the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director.
The RFI focuses on three key recommendations: limiting NIH-funded postdoctoral support to five years, possibly restructuring the K99/R00 funding mechanism to focus on ideas and creativity over productivity, and enhancing training and professional development for postdocs and their mentors.
NIH invites feedback from graduate students, postdocs, early-stage investigators, biomedical faculty, training directors, postdoctoral and graduate student office leaders, industry scientists, and research education program advocates. Comments should be submitted electronically by October 23, 2024.
National Fossil Day is October 16
National Fossil Day, an annual celebration organized by the National Park Service (NPS), will take place on October 16, 2024. The event highlights the scientific and educational value of paleontology and the importance of preserving fossils for future generations.
The 15th annual celebration will include paleontology activities planned by partner organizations across the United States. AIBS partners with the National Park Service every year to promote the event.
NPS and National Fossil Day partners are sponsoring an art contest as a part of the celebration. The contest theme is: "Compare the work of an Archeologist and a Paleontologist. How is the work of these two professions similar and different?" Entries can be submitted until October 4, 2024. Learn more about how to participate.
The participation of local museums, universities, and other scientific organizations is central to National Fossil Day. Help your local community learn about local paleontological and natural resources by participating in the event. To join NPS as a partner, visit their website.
BioScience Talks Episode on a Lunar Biorepository
The latest episode of BioScience Talks features a conversation with Mary Hagedorn of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute about biorepositories, and specifically, a plan to place a biorepository on the Moon. Described in a recent article in BioScience, such a repository would take advantage of the Moon's naturally cold temperatures to provide safe long-term storage for cryopreserved animal tissues.
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.
From the Federal Register
The following items appeared in the Federal Register from August 12 to 23, 2024.
Agency for International Development
Agriculture
Commerce
Environmental Protection Agency
Health and Human Services
Interior
National Science Foundation
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