Gilliam on the Hill; NIH Reform; Walz
BU IN DC
Anthony Jack from the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development held a discussion about his new book at Politics & Prose on August 16th.
Hadi Nia of the College of Engineering gave a keynote address at the National Cancer Institute Junior Investigator Annual Meeting on August 22nd.
Kevin Gallagher and Marilou Uy of the Global Development Policy Centeraddressed an International Monetary Fund technical workshop about debt sustainability, climate change, and development on August 23rd.
Deborah Carr of the Center for Innovation in Social Science and Jennifer Weuve of the School of Public Health participated in a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) workshop on social factors that may impact the risk for cognitive impairment on August 29th and 30th.
Yannis Paschalidis of the Hariri Institute for Computing and Computational Science & Engineering attended a National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health co-led workshop on using artificial intelligence to understand menopause on September 4th and 5th.
GILLIAM MEETS WITH LAWMAKERS ON CAPITOL HILL
President Melissa L. Gilliam discussed her vision for the University, BU’s efforts to support students this fall, and the importance of federally-funded research with Members of Congress on Capitol Hill on Thursday. Gilliam met with Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), whose Congressional district includes parts of the Charles River Campus, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), and Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D-FL, CAS ’70). Gilliam met this summer with Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, as well as Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), whose district includes BU’s campuses.
BU COMMENTS ON NIH REFORM PROPOSALS
Vice President and Associate Provost for Research ad interim Thomas Bifano recently responded to two requests from Congress for input on the future of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In response to a proposal from Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) of the House Energy & Commerce Committee to merge NIH institutes and centers, restructure how NIH pays for research, and restrict gain-of-function research, BU’s letter stressed the importance of an evidence-based decision-making process. Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Larry Bucshon (R-IN) sought input on ways to advance biomedical research further. In response, BU’s comments emphasized the need for sustained funding over the long-term and investment in biopreparedness. While Congress is unlikely to move forward with legislation to alter the NIH this year, the Congressional proposals signal legislators’ interests in the years ahead.
HARRIS SELECTS WALZ AS RUNNING MATE
Last month, Vice President Kamala Harris announced that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz would be her running mate as she seeks the presidency on the Democratic ticket. Walz served 24 years in the Army National Guard and was a high school social studies teacher prior to representing a rural Minnesota district in the U.S. House of Representatives. As Governor, he signed into law a bill to provide free college tuition for students attending public institutions. Governor Walz’s wife, Gwen, was also a public school teacher and is an advocate for higher education opportunities for incarcerated individuals.