News

NSF, Neuroscience & Data Science, Cancer Research

BU IN DC

Deborah Carr and student Avery Bolden of the College of Arts & Sciences met with Congressional staff in the Massachusetts and Rhode Island delegations as part of the Consortium of Social Science Associations annual advocacy day on April 25th.

Kevin Gallagher, Cecilia Han Springer, Lin Zhu, and Oyintarelado Moses of the Global Development Policy Center discussed China's overseas investments in climate technologies with Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Congressional staff, and federal agency officials from April 24th through 27th. 

Lauren Wise of the School of Public Health had a virtual meeting with staff for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) to discuss insurance coverage for infertility during the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's advocacy day on April 25th.

BUZZ BITS...

• On Wednesday, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing with National Science Foundation (NSF) Director Sethuraman Panchanathan and National Science Board Chair Dan Reed to discuss the agency's proposed fiscal year 2024 budget. Members questioned the two officials about NSF's approach to research security, broadening participation in science, building a skilled technical workforce, and supporting research into online misinformation and deepfakes.
• The Committee also heard from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Bill Nelson on Thursday regarding the agency's priorities for the year ahead. Nelson discussed the agency's return to the Moon, the Administration's proposal to expand its Earth science portfolio, and NASA's work to broaden the pool of investigators involved in its research programs.
• A subcommittee of the House Energy & Commerce Committee held a hearing on Thursday to examine federal oversight of labs that conduct research on high-risk pathogens. Witnesses urged legislators to create an independent agency to oversee such research, whether privately or federally funded. Members of Congress expressed concerns about the proliferation of labs around the globe that may be working with deadly pathogens without adequate safety precautions.

EVENTS NEWS YOU CAN USE

The Office of Research will hold its final Research on Tap of the academic year on May 2nd at 4:00 pm in the Kilachand Center. "Neuroscience to Data Science and Back" will be hosted by Jerry Chen of the College of Arts & Sciences and Bobak Nazer of the College of Engineering. The event will bring together faculty from across BU to present microtalks on their research in neuroscience and data science, and explore how these fields are rapidly evolving—hand-in-hand. A reception to interact with potential research partners will follow the presentations.

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GRANTS NEWS YOU CAN USE

The Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) recently released its fiscal year 2023 Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) solicitations, including a new “Advancing Cancer Care Through Clinical Trials Award.” The PRCRP aims to support innovative, high-impact cancer research that leads to clear and effective advances in the health care of service members and their families; all applications to the PRCRP should address how the proposed research is related to those populations. Application deadlines vary for each award under PRCRP.

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A Note To Our Readers: During the House Congressional District Work Period, Beltway BUzz will be on hiatus. Be sure to check our website and Twitter feed for updates. 

Research Hearings, Transgender Athletes, BU Innovation

BU IN DC

President Robert A. Brown attended the spring membership meeting of the Association of American Universities from April 16th through 18th.

Cecilia Han Springer and Lin Zhu of the Global Development Policy Center discussed China's overseas investments in climate technologies with Congressional staff on April 14th. 

Mary Churchill of the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development spoke about advancing women leaders through advocacy and policy during the women's leadership dinner at the American Council on Education annual meeting on April 13th. 

Wheelock College of Education & Human Development Dean David Chard met with Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee staff to discuss the Institute of Education Sciences on April 5th. 

Gabriel Kaptchuk of the College of Arts & Sciences spoke at an Information Technology & Innovation Foundation event about the consequences of allowing law enforcement backdoor access to encrypted data on April 6th.

CONGRESS HEARS FROM OFFICIALS ON BUDGET

This week, the leaders of several federal agencies appeared before the Congressional Appropriations Committees to discuss the President's budget request for science and education:

• National Science Foundation (NSF) Director Sethuraman Panchanathan and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Bill Nelson jointly testified before the Senate. Panchanathan discussed how NSF would use President Biden's proposed 18% increase to implement the priorities established in last year's CHIPS & Science Act (P.L. 117-167), while Nelson highlighted NASA's needs ahead of planned missions to the Moon and its plans to address cost-overruns in certain key missions. Panchanathan and Nelson separately testified before the House as well.
• National Institutes of Health Acting Director Lawrence Tabak discussed with the House how the agency intends to address its biomedical research priorities with its modest 2% requested increase.
• In testimony before the House, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona urged Congress to robustly fund the office tasked with implementing upcoming changes to the federal financial aid application. He also defended his agency's policies regarding student loan debt forgiveness and transgender students' participation in athletics.

BUZZ BITS...

• The U.S. Department of Education is seeking feedback on a proposed regulation that would prohibit institutions from categorically banning transgender students from participating in sports that align with their gender identity. The proposal notes that Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender in athletics, but would permit schools to restrict participation under certain criteria. The agency is accepting comments on its proposal through May 15th.
• President Joe Biden appointed 24 members to the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities on April 13th. In addition to celebrities such as Lady Gaga and George Clooney, the appointees include several college presidents and humanities scholars. The Committee was created in 1982, but had been dissolved during the Trump Administration.
• The U.S. Department of Defense announced that Doug Beck will serve as the next director of the Defense Innovation Unit, which seeks to accelerate the commercialization and adoption of technologies relevant to the military. Mr. Beck is currently Vice President of Apple and has served for 25 years in the U.S. military, most recently as a captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

EVENTS NEWS YOU CAN USE

Join the Office of Research on May 1st at 3:00 p.m. in the Photonics Center for a panel discussion on navigating the innovation ecosystem. Hear from current and past winners of the BU Ignition Award about their journeys to achieve broader impact with their research, including lessons learned, surprises encountered, and the resources and networks they have tapped to advance their ideas. The event will also recognize BU's 2022 Innovator of the Year, Ji-Xin Cheng of the College of Engineering.

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