NIH Seeks Input On Alzheimer’s, Future of NCATS
BU IN DC
Christos Cassandras, Ioannis Paschalidis, and Michael Caramanis of the College of Engineering and Hariri Institute for Computing and Computational Science & Engineering Director Azer Bestavros spoke at a National Science Foundation workshop on Smart Cities on December 3 and 4. Cassandras chaired the workshop and Paschalidis was a member of the organizing committee.
NIH SEEKS INPUT ON ALZHEIMER’S, FUTURE OFÂ NCATS
The National Institutes of Health is seeking public input on several research initiatives this month.
- The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute on Aging are requesting updates to the Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias Research Priorities, last released in 2013. Responses are due by December 18, and will be presented to the public at the Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias Summit in March 2016.
- The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences is developing its first five-year strategic plan. Stakeholders are encouraged to provide input on topics ranging from breaking down scientific silos to expanding research into new therapeutic modalities. Comments are due by January 8.
BUZZ BITS…
- More than 500 colleges, including Boston University, signed a letter on November 20 urging Capitol Hill lawmakers to grant a one-year extension of the Perkins loan program, which expired on October 1st.
- The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced last week that Deputy Under Secretary Jamienne Studley will leave ED to return to her family in the Bay Area on December 18. Studley led ED’s work on the new College Scorecard and on efforts to update accreditation practices. A successor has not yet been chosen.
- The National Science and Technology Council released a report on Mapping the Microbiome on November 20. The report summarizes the federal investment in microbiome research and cites challenges such as the difficulty of analyzing large quantities of data and the need for common standards in the field.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
BU Research will present “Department of Defense Health Research: Navigating the Funding Landscape” on Monday, December 7 at 2 p.m. on the Medical Campus. Participants will learn about cross-cutting Defense trends and priorities, specific programs that engage most directly with academic researchers, and techniques for working with the Department of Defense’s health research entities. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP in advance.