NIH Funding, Equal Opportunity Summit, Artificial Intelligence
BU IN DC
Nicole Huberfeld of the School of Law moderated the second installment of a National Cancer Policy Forum webinar series on the impacts of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision on access to reproductive health services in the context of cancer care on July 24th.
SENATORS PROPOSE INCREASES FOR NIH, PELL
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved spending bills on Thursday which would bolster student aid and biomedical research budgets in fiscal year 2024. Working under the budgetary caps set by the Fiscal Responsibility Act (Public Law 118-5), the Committee recommended a 2% increase to the National Institutes of Health and a 3% increase to the maximum Pell Grant award for low-income students. The Senators proposed maintaining the current year’s funding levels for the Advanced Projects Research Agency – Health (ARPA-H) and the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities. The Senate’s suggested funding levels stand in contrast with the significant cuts proposed by the House Appropriations Committee earlier this month. Both chambers will need to reconcile their competing bills later this year in order to determine the outcome of the fiscal year 2024 budget.
BUZZ BITS…
- On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Education hosted a national summit on promoting equal opportunity in higher education in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that prohibits the consideration of race in college admissions. The Department announced it would be releasing guidance in August on how colleges can comply with the ruling while cultivating diverse applicants.
- The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) is seeking input on a coordinated federal strategy on nutrition science and research. PCAST is requesting stakeholder comments on maximizing federal investments in nutrition research, how interventions for chronic diseases should be incorporated, and strategies for ensuring equitable access to federal nutrition research funding.
- The Department of Defense announced on Monday that it has created three new positions in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, replacing the role of Deputy Chief Technology Officer. The new Assistant Secretaries of Defense will oversee Science and Technology, Critical Technologies, and Mission Capabilities.
GRANTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
BU Federal Relations recently posted a comprehensive overview of the federal artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) landscape compiled by Lewis-Burke Associates. AI/ML remains a top research priority under the Biden Administration and continues to enjoy strong bipartisan support given the wide range of applications, but there are growing concerns about potential negative impacts. This compendium provides detailed information on AI/ML priorities for the Biden Administration and Congress, as well as research priorities and major funding opportunities at federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Energy.
A Note To Our Readers: Due to the Congressional District Work period, Beltway BUzz will not publish in August. Be sure to check our website and social media for updates. See you in September!