Biological Sciences

NIH Autism Data Science Initiative

May 28, 2025

The National Institutes of Health has launched a new Autism Data Science Initiative (...

Washington Update - May 23, 2025

May 23, 2025

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

Policy Update: House of Representatives Advances Reconciliation Package  Policy Update: Make America Healthy Again Commission Releases Report on Chronic Childhood Diseases     Policy Update: Department of Defense Snapshot May 2025       Funding Opportunity: Air Force Office of...

Policy Update: Make America Healthy Again Commission Releases Report on Chronic Childhood Diseases

May 23, 2025

On May 22, the Trump Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission released its long-anticipated assessment report on Making Our Children Healthy Again. Earlier this year, President Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the MAHA Commission, comprised of leaders from key federal health, agricultural, and economic agencies to reduce the burden of chronic disease among U.S. youth. The report offers the first glimpse into the Administration’s health priorities, highlighting specific concerns such as increased rates of childhood chronic illness and cancer incidence...

NCI Releases RFI on Benchmarks for AI in Cancer Research

May 23, 2025

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute (NCI) has released arequest for information(RFI) seeking input on benchmark development and benchmark datasets needed for the utilization, validation, and application of artificial intelligence (AI) in cancer research and care.

The RFI aims to elucidate and...

Congressional Update: HHS Secretary Testifies Before House Appropriations LHHS Subcommittee and Senate HELP Committee on FY 2026 Budget Request

May 15, 2025

On May 14, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) testified to both the House Appropriations Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Subcommittee and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee defending President Trump’s proposed “skinny” budget for fiscal...

Policy Update: National Science Foundation Updates

May 9, 2025

This Lewis-Burke report provides an update on policy developments at the National Science Foundation (NSF). May 10, 2025, marks the 75th Anniversary of NSF – “Since 1950, NSF has invested in ideas and innovations across all fields of science and engineering.” While celebrations have been scaled back, the National Science Board (NSB) noted earlier this week the significant achievements of NSF to date, and that success in the next 50 years will look very different.

Congressional Update: Senate Appropriations Committee Holds Hearing on Biomedical Research Innovation

May 2, 2025

On April 30, the Senate Appropriations Committee, led by Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-ME), hosted a hearing on “Biomedical Research: Keeping America’s Edge in Innovation” to discuss the impacts of reducing federal funding for biomedical research. The witnesses included Dr. Sudip...

Policy Update: Leaked OMB "Pre-Decisional" Budget Proposal Seeks Major Cuts for HHS

April 18, 2025

An internal document, detailing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget “passback,” includes proposed major cuts to HHS funding and programs. The proposal notably reorganizes NIH into 8 ICs and cuts the agency’s topline budget by 42%. The passback” is the stage of the federal budget process during which the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) shares its budget proposal with federal departments and agencies, in this case for fiscal year (FY) 2026.


The...

Engagement Opportunity: DOC issues RFI on Imports of Pharmaceuticals

April 18, 2025

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security has released a Request for Information (RFI) on “the effects on the national security of imports of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients.” The DOC investigation began on April 1, 2025, and was initiated under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. DOC seeks information on finished generic and non-generic pharmaceuticals, medical countermeasures, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and key starting materials.

DOC is...

Bioeconomy Snapshot April 2025

April 11, 2025

Lewis-Burke has provided campus with a Bioeconomy Snapshot report featuring commentary on the latest activities of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology.