NIH Leaders; AI; Science & Humanities Budgets
BU in DC
Faculty at the BU School of Social Work are presenting their research at the 2026 Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference from January 15th to January 18th.
NIH ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS
- Dr. Gary H. Gibbons will retire from his role as the director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) after 14 years. Beginning on January 31st, NHLBI Deputy Director David Goff will serve as acting NHLBI director.
- NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya announced on Wednesday that Dr. Nicole Kleinstreuer has been named the NIH Deputy Director for Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives. She has served as the Acting Deputy Director since April 16th, overseeing cross-NIH activities such as the NIH Common Fund, data science, and behavioral science, and working to promote the use of non-animal models in research.
HOUSE HEARINGS HIGHLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS WITH AI
On Tuesday, both the House Education and the Workforce Committee and a subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held hearings on artificial intelligence. White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios testified before the Subcommittee on Research and Technology on “Advancing America’s AI Action Plan.” He touted the potential for the Administration’s Genesis Mission to accelerate scientific progress through the use of AI, while emphasizing the need for robust infrastructure and data centers. At the “Building an AI-Ready America” hearing, lawmakers discussed how AI could be used in both K-12 and higher education to personalize curriculum, develop talent, and boost productivity and economic growth. Both Democrats and Republicans emphasized the importance of protecting students’ data.
BUZZ BITS…
- Yesterday, the U.S. Senate approved a package of fiscal year 2026 spending bills that reject the Trump Administration’s proposed cuts to science at the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), as well as the proposed elimination of the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities. The President is expected to sign the package, which was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives last week.
- On Wednesday, the House approved a spending bill that directs the White House not to implement any changes in how universities are reimbursed for facilities and administrative costs related to research. An earlier Trump Administration proposal to make changes to research reimbursement is currently on hold due to a lawsuit. The Senate is expected to approve the spending bill later this month.
- Last week, negotiators at a U.S. Department of Education rulemaking session reached an agreement on a plan to implement new accountability metrics for undergraduate and graduate programs. The Department will request public comment on the framework, which would limit federal student loans to bachelor’s degree programs that demonstrate their graduates earn more than individuals with a high school diploma and graduate programs whose alumni earn more than individuals with bachelor’s degrees. The Department aims to institute the new metrics in time for the 2026-2027 academic year.