News
CTE Can Cause Dementia, According to New Boston University Study
BU CTE Center researchers found advanced stage of the progressive brain disease increases odds of dementia fourfold.
Fossil Fuel Infrastructure, Edu-Influencers, Davos
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
More Than 46 Million in the US Live Within a Mile of Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
New Boston University study suggests urban residents are disproportionately exposed to potentially harmful energy supply chain infrastructure.
COMMUNITY RESOURCE
Four Faculty Rated Top Educational Policy Influencers
BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development faculty Joshua Goodman, Anthony Abraham Jack, Marcus Winters, and David Chard were named among the top 200 most influential scholars in educational policy and practice in the 2026 Edu-Scholar Public Influence rankings.
FACULTY EXPERTS
BU at Davos
Boston University President Melissa Gilliam and Associate Provost for Computing & Data Sciences Azer Bestavros joined business, education, technology, political, environment, and healthcare leaders from around the world last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Check it out
THOUGHT LEADERS
In Case You Missed It...
You're invited to a Climate Conversations event at the National Academies on February 10th, moderated by BU College of Communication Dean Mariette diChristina... BU President Melissa L. Gilliam discusses her path to leadership on the New England Council's Inside the Corner Office podcast... BU School of Public Health Dean Adnan Hyder reflects on the United Nations declaration to reduce tobacco use, improve hypertension control, and expand access to mental health care by 2030... Joan Salge Blake of the BU Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences talks to CBS News about the new food pyramid and what it means for your diet... As the Food and Drug Administration works to publish a proposed rule, BU epidemiologist Lauren Wise discusses her research about the potential dangers posed by chemical hair straighteners with CNN.
NIH & Pell Grants; Quantum; NEA
HOUSE APPROVES NIH INCREASE, REJECTS PELL GRANT CUTS
Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved fiscal year (FY) 2026 spending bills for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Education (ED), and Department of Defense (DOD) that reject the Trump Administration's proposal to significantly reduce federal investments in medical research and student aid. The package, negotiated by both chambers of Congress with the White House, would increase NIH funding by approximately one percent above current levels and maintain funding for both the maximum Pell Grant award and Federal Work-Study (FWS) at their current levels. In contrast, the President's Budget Request proposed to cut NIH funding by 40 percent, Pell Grant awards by nearly 25 percent, and FWS by 80 percent. The package would decrease basic research at the DOD by 4.2 percent compared to FY 2025, versus the eight percent proposed by the Administration. The bills now head to the U.S. Senate for a vote. The President is expected to sign the measures into law before the continuing resolution that funds the government expires on January 30th.
BUZZ BITS...
- The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing titled "Assessing U.S. Leadership in Quantum Science and Technology" on Thursday. Members of Congress highlighted the need for a renewed commitment to quantum science, discussed efforts to reauthorize the National Quantum Initiative Act, addressed competition with China, and expressed differing views on the role of international talent in the U.S. scientific enterprise.
- The National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking public input on its draft NSF Strategic Plan for fiscal year 2026 to 2030. The plan identifies three key goals: advancing American innovation and national security, cultivating STEM talent, and modernizing the NSF's operations. Comments are due by January 27th.
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced yesterday that "NIH funds will not be permitted for research using [human fetal tissue] from elective abortions." The announcement is effective immediately and reverses a previous NIH policy implemented in 2021. According to the agency, the NIH supported 77 projects utilizing human fetal tissue in fiscal year 2024.
GRANT NEWS YOU CAN USE
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) recently released two research funding opportunities: the Research Grants in the Arts "investigate the value and/or impact of the arts in American life" and the NEA Research Labs support long-term research projects that promote knowledge about the arts and their societal impacts. The agency is particularly interested in proposals that focus on how the arts can support artificial intelligence competency training; how art therapies can affect the health of veterans, children, and older Americans; and how art activities can benefit learners with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder.
Video: Leaders Among Us—President Gilliam in Conversation with Merav Opher
Noted BU astronomer talks about her pioneering research and the qualities that make for a good leader.
A Solution to the Cocktail Party Problem—Hidden in the Brain
BU researchers are mixing neuroscience, photonics, and engineering to help people with hearing loss pick out sounds in noisy spaces.
Small Lifestyle Changes in Your 20s Can Shape Your Heart Attack Risk for Decades, BU Study Finds
Even modest improvements to diet, sleep, and exercise in young adulthood can dramatically lower the odds of later cardiovascular disease.
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.
Brink Bites: BU Expert to Help Lead UN Climate Report, Undergraduates Study Secrets of the Universe
The Brink’s latest collection of news nuggets, short stories, and other thought-provoking snippets from the world of Boston University research—including a BU expert being tapped to help lead a major United Nations climate report.
NSF, NASA, DOE, and NEH; New Leaders; Microelectronics
BU in DC
Will you be in Washington, DC, this year? Let us know -- we'd love to highlight your visit.
HOUSE REJECTS ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSED CUTS TO SCIENCE, HUMANITIES
On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a package of fiscal year 2026 spending bills that reject the Trump Administration's proposed cuts to science and cultural agencies. The measures will slightly increase the Department of Energy's (DOE) science budget, maintain the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) science budget at its current level, and decrease the National Science Foundation's (NSF) budget by 3.4%. Earlier this year, the Trump Administration had proposed cutting NSF by 57%, NASA Science by 47%, and the DOE Office of Science by 14%. The bills will maintain funding for the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities at $207 million each, in contrast to the Administration's plan to eliminate both agencies. The U.S. Senate is expected to approve the House-passed bills later this month. Congress is still crafting a final set of fiscal year 2026 spending bills for the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Defense.
NEW LEADERS AT NASA, DOD, NIH, AND NEA
Several federal agencies have new leadership, including:
- Jared Isaacman was sworn in as the 15th administrator of NASA on December 18th after the U.S. Senate approved his nomination by a vote of 67 to 30. Isaacman is an entrepreneur and pilot.
- Mary Anne Carter returns as the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), following approval by the U.S. Senate on December 18th. Carter held the same role between 2019 and 2021.
- Assistant Secretary for Defense for Science and Technology Joseph Jewell and Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering James Mazol were confirmed to roles at the Department of Defense (DOD) by the Senate on December 18th. Dr. Jewell is a hypersonics and aerospace research scholar who has held roles at Purdue University and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Mazol previously oversaw science and technology policy for the Senate Armed Services Committee.
- Dr. Amy Adams will serve as acting director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) following the departure of current director Dr. Walter Koroshetz on January 24th. Leaders at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declined to reappoint Koroshetz to a third term as NINDS director.
- Dr. Shawn Domagal-Goldman is the acting director of the Astrophysics Division of the NASA Science Mission Directorate. He replaces Dr. Sandra Cauffman, who retired in December after more than two decades with the agency.
GRANT NEWS YOU CAN USE
"Microelectronics: Landscape of Federal Research and Policy Priorities" is now available to members of the BU community on the Federal Relations website. The primer from Lewis-Burke Associates identifies federal priorities, funding investments, and engagement opportunities relevant to research, education, and workforce organizations working to advance microelectronics. The document identifies funding opportunities at the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and Department of Defense and analyzes changes to the Commerce Department's approach to microelectronics.