Biological Sciences

Engagement Opportunity: NIH Releases RFI on Reducing Administrative Burden in NIH Extramural Research

October 12, 2026
On October 8, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a request for information (RFI) seeking comments from the biomedical research community identifying possible reforms to ease the administrative burden of obtaining, maintaining, and reporting on NIH extramural research funding. The NIH continues to recognize the importance of certain requirements in...

Policy Update: Early Implementation of a New Golden Age of Science Priorities

October 13, 2026

Lewis-Burke has provided an analysis of major themes, federal agency initiatives, and implications for the research community from the October 8 New Golden Age of Science Summit in Washington, DC. The event brought together over 200 representatives from federal science agencies, academia, industry, national laboratories, nonprofit organizations, think tanks, philanthropy, and venture capital. The summit outlined White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)...

Washington Update - September 11, 2026

September 11, 2026

Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC periodically provides campus with a Washington Update report. In this report:

Lewis-Burke Analysis of the Federal Economic Development and Commercialization Landscape Agency Update: DOE Planning Next Phase of Commercialization Programs to Support Energy Startups and Small Businesses Funding Opportunity: AFOSR Releases FY 2027 Young Investigator Program (YIP)...

Funding Opportunity: AFOSR Releases FY 2027 Young Investigator Program (YIP)

September 9, 2026
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) has released its fiscal year (FY) 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement (NOFO) for the Young Investigator Program (YIP). This annual program provides early-career university faculty, scientists, and engineers who have shown exceptional promise in conducting basic research the opportunity to work with the Air Force and Space Force to advance its research and...

NIH Advisory Council Meetings Summary and Concept Clearances - Spring/Summer 2026

September 4, 2026
Over the past few months, advisory councils across the National Institutes of Health (NIH) met to discuss priorities, policies, and ongoing and upcoming activities within their portfolios. Meeting discussions were wide-ranging but included a particular focus on emerging NIH priorities championed by Director Jay Bhattacharya, such as rigor and reproducibility, as well as changes to grants policy, notably the Unified Funding Strategy. Many councils also discussed the creation or renewal of programs aligned with their individual missions and/or broader Administration priorities. Lewis-Burke has...

Policy Update: HHS Announces Changes to GRAS Designations and Proposes Federal Definition of UPFs

August 11, 2026

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued two food policy announcements that seek to modernize federal oversight of food ingredients and establish a stronger scientific foundation for future nutrition policy. In particular, the policy announcements aim to increase oversight on substances added to foods that...

Washington Update - August 13, 2026

August 13, 2026

Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC periodically provides campus with a Washington Update report. In this report:

Policy Update: HHS Announces Changes to GRAS Designations and Proposes Federal Definition of UPFs Funding Opportunity: State Department Issues "Project Constellation" Solicitation, Focuses on Space Diplomacy and Artemis Accords (This is a limited submission opportunity. The campus...

Engagement Opportunity: NIH Releases RFI on Proposed Changes to Peer Review Reporting Outcomes Following Unified Funding Strategy Webinar

August 19, 2026

On August 14, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) hosted a webinar, Understanding NIH's Unified Funding Strategy: What the Research Community Needs to Know, outlining how the Unified Funding Strategy guides funding decisions across NIH. As a reminder, within theframework for the strategy, NIH will move away from reliance on...

Funding Opportunity: NSF Releases NOFOs for Core Research, FY26 Expeditions, & New EFRI Solicitations

August 19, 2026
On August 17, the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced 10 new notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) for core research programs along with several specific solicitations for larger programs. The announcement stated that NSF plans to provide $1.5 billion for foundational research across science and engineering. These new funding releases follow NSF's new vision for research funding, which aims to reduce the overall number of solicitations from the agency and adopt a...