New Report Outlines Research Agenda to Better Understand the Relationship Among Microbiomes, Indoor Environments, and Human Health

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 9:00 EDT

Even with a growing body of research on microorganisms and humans in indoor environments, many of their interconnections remain unknown, says a new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The report proposes a research agenda to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the formation, dynamics, and functions of indoor microbiomes that can guide improvements to current and future buildings as well as enhance human health and well-being. Read More

Opioid Epidemic in the News

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 16:00 EDT

President Trump today declared the opioid epidemic a national emergency. A National Academies report released in July presents a national strategy to reduce the opioid epidemic. The report says it is possible to stem the still-escalating prevalence of opioid use disorder and other opioid-related harms without foreclosing access to opioids for patients suffering from pain. Read the full report

Academic Biomedical Research Community Should Take Action to Build Resilience to Disasters

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 14:00 EDT

The academic biomedical research community should improve its ability to mitigate and recover from the impacts of disasters, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The consequences of recent disasters, from hurricanes to cyberattacks, have shown that the investments of the U.S. federal government and other research sponsors — which total about $27 billion annually — are not uniformly secure. The report recommends 10 steps that academic research institutions, researchers, and research sponsors should take to bolster the resilience of academic biomedical research. For example, academic research institutions should implement mandatory disaster resilience education for research students, staff, and faculty. And the National Institutes of Health should convene a consortium of stakeholders to discuss efforts research sponsors can take to enhance the disaster resilience of the biomedical research enterprise. Read More

National Academies Review of the Government's Climate Science Special Report

Tue, 08 Aug 2017 13:30 EDT

An article published in the New York Times today mentioned the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's review of the federal government's Climate Science Special Report. The U.S. Global Change Research Program — a multi-agency program representing several government agencies and departments — asked the National Academies to review the draft report, and the Academies' review was released publicly in March this year. Read the full review  

Gulf Research Program Announces 2017 Fellowships

Tue, 08 Aug 2017 11:30 EDT

The Gulf Research Program today announced the recipients of its Early-Career Research Fellowships and Science Policy Fellowships for 2017. These competitive awards are among a suite of program activities aimed at supporting the development of future generations of scientists, engineers, and health professionals prepared to work at the intersections of oil system safety, human health and well-being, and environmental stewardship in the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. outer continental shelf regions.

Michael Clegg Appointed as U.S. Representative to IIASA Council

Fri, 04 Aug 2017 17:30 EDT

The U.S. National Academy of Sciences announces the appointment of Michael Clegg, Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Irvine, to succeed Donald Saari as the U.S. representative to the Council of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). As a distinguished scientist and science diplomat, Clegg brings an extensive track record of experience and proven leadership success in the international sphere. Read More

New Report Recommends Methods and Guiding Principles for Developing Dietary Reference Intakes Based on Chronic Disease

Thu, 03 Aug 2017 11:00 EDT

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine outlines how to examine whether specific levels of nutrients or other food substances (NOFSs) can ameliorate the risk of chronic disease and recommends ways to develop dietary reference intakes (DRIs) based on chronic disease outcomes. The committee that conducted the study and wrote the report was tasked specifically with assessing the options presented in a 2017 report from a working group sponsored by the U.S. and Canadian government DRI steering committees that convened to identify key scientific challenges encountered in the use of chronic disease endpoints to establish DRI values. DRIs are a set of reference intake values that include the Estimated Average Requirement, Recommended Dietary Allowance, Adequate Intake, and Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for more than 40 nutrients and food substances, specified on the basis of age, sex, and life stage. DRIs based on nutrient deficiency and toxicity have been established by expert committees convened by the National Academies. The DRIs are used in nutrition policy, such as planning federal supplemental nutrition programs and as basis for dietary guidelines in the United States and Canada, and are also a tool for nutrition professionals for clinical assessments of individuals. Read More

Getting Ready for the Next Planetary Sciences Decadal Survey

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 01:00 EDT

A new National Academies report considers the priority areas as defined in 2011 Academies report Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 where mission studies have not been undertaken; appropriate mechanisms by which mission-study gaps might be filled in the near- to mid-term future; and other activities that might be undertaken in the near- to mid-term future to optimize and/or expedite the work of the next planetary science decadal survey committee

National Academy of Medicine and FDA Announce the 2017 Tobacco Regulatory Science Fellows

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 12:00 EDT

The National Academy of Medicine along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) have named the 2017-2018 class of the FDA Tobacco Regulatory Science Fellows. Four individuals were selected through a highly selective national competition based on their exceptional, diverse professional qualifications to contribute to the work of CTP. Read More

'Hidden Figures' Wins Best Book Award From Academies; 'PBS NewsHour,' Chicago Tribune, FiveThirtyEight Also Take Top Prizes

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 11:00 EDT

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine announced today the recipients of the 2017 Communication Awards. Supported by the W.M. Keck Foundation since 2003 as part of the Keck Futures Initiative, these prestigious awards -- each of which includes a $20,000 prize -- recognize excellence in reporting and communicating science, engineering, and medicine to the general public. The winners will be honored during a ceremony on Sept. 13 in Washington, D.C. Read More