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Federal health agency cancels most of its teen pregnancy prevention grants, including some in Pa.
A spokesperson for U.S. Health and Human Services confirmed to Stateline on Friday that the agency is canceling 53 out of 67 grants, worth about $68 million, under the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, affecting grantees in more than two dozen states. A list obtained by Stateline of canceled grants includes those awarded to universities, community […]
MSU Vet Tech program awarded $150k NIFA-USDA grant
Morehead State University's nationally ranked veterinary technology program was recently awarded significant financial support to help it maintain its place as the #1 program of its kind in Kentucky. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), awarded MSU's vet tech program a $150,000 NIFA-USDA grant for equipment to support small and large veterinary technology education and workforce competency at MSU. Learn more about veterinary technology programs at MSU by emailing Staton at a.staton@moreheadstate.edu or calling 606-783-2328. Find out more about MSU's veterinary technology program by calling 606-783-2662.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens NICU Awarded Gold Beacon Award for Excellence
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens has been honored with the prestigious Gold Beacon Award for Excellence from the
Making Our Own Luck
We are cross-posting a piece that former NIH official Kris Willis wrote for Macroscience. Kris is now the President and Founder of the Woodley Park Institute, for which I’m a board member. Picking winners or hedging bets? Federal science agencies have long wrestled with the question of how to ensure their billions of dollars of grants and contracts result in maximum benefits for Americans. On the surface, it might seem that a goal-oriented, interventionist style of management would be the best policy: prioritize our most pressing problems and distribute funding accordingly.This top-down strategy creates a unique hazard, though: bad choices can send resources in the wrong direction, resulting in slow progress that impedes the delivery of tangible benefits to citizens. Moreover, if decision makers pursue an applied advance when the underlying scientific principles remain poorly understood, they risk costly failures and a loss of support for the research enterprise at large. Examples include Nixon’s 1971 War on Cancer, undertaken on the premise that a cure could be achieved in less than a decade, the drive to build an operational commercial fusion plant by the mid-1990s, and the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease, which failed to produce the effective treatments and prevention strategies promised by 2025. The contrasting laissez-faire approach is to hedge your bets. If the path to an advance is impossible to predict, then the wisest choice might be to distribute funding to as widely as possible. The main risk of this strategy is that spreading funding thinly may limit the resources available to the most promising research, resulting in the same negative outcomes as the interventionist approach: limited support for the most promising topics, slow progress, and delayed returns. In reality, at science agencies like the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, program managers navigate between these two extremes, setting some funds aside to target high-priority areas and using the rest to cover the widest possible range of meritorious proposals. This middle path seems like the most rational way to proceed, but it still requires making choices. How much should be set aside for high priority topics? What should those topics be? How should we define merit? Expert opinion can provide a helpful guide, but leading experts can have remarkably different opinions about what matters and what should be prioritized. Moreover, experts and administrators alike can be risk averse, giving an edge to high-profile, well-established concepts. What’s really needed is a data-driven framework to help guide decision-making, one that doesn’t simply repackage prestige or incumbency. Recognizing breakthroughs years in advance Many breakthroughs fail to attract funding or recognition at the earliest stages of development. Katalin Karikó, for example, spent years struggling to win grants for work on mRNA that would eventually win her and Drew Weissman a Nobel Prize. Similar stories can be told about Jim Allison’s groundbreaking studies leading to the development of cancer immunotherapy, Stan Pruisner’s demonstration that prions can self-replicate without DNA, or Robin Warren and Barry Marshall’s proof that Helicobacter pylori, not stress, causes ulcers. Yet at some point, the scientific community recognizes and responds to transformative breakthroughs like these. How does that change happen? And what if science funders could identify the areas that are on the cusp of a breakthrough? Those questions led my collaborators and me to study how scientists responded to past breakthroughs. Based on patterns in that data, we developed a means of predicting future breakthroughs, using biomedicine as a proof of concept. It’s worth taking a moment to describe how our approach works. Briefly, our prediction process begins by grouping the 18 million or so peer-reviewed papers in PubMed, the authoritative database of biomedical research, into roughly 50,000 unique topics. A small subset of these topics are so widely acclaimed as breakthroughs that they have been recognized with a major prize like a Nobel or a Lasker Award. We theorized that studying the development of these outliers over time, especially before they gained acclaim, was the key to identifying future instances of them. After defining topics, we chose 21 representative breakthroughs and asked what they looked like before they won prestigious prizes. To answer that question, we re-ran our topic-mapping algorithm repeatedly, winding back the clock one year each time, stringing together the years to follow the progress of each field as it grew and advanced. We found that in each case, the years leading up to a discovery followed a pattern: a burst of papers on a new, rapidly evolving topic, many of which quickly became influential. These characteristics—the percent of papers that are new, the percentage of papers that are brought in from other topics, and the influence of each individual paper—can all be measured separately for any given topic. Together, they act as a predictive signal that is detectable an average of five years before a transformative discovery is made, and up to thirty years before the discovery receives a major prize. Scanning the current research landscape for topics that display this signal allows us to predict what work will likely produce a future breakthrough. Each year we analyzed includes four or five signals, a number that appears to have remained constant across a twenty year time frame. In their classic work on the sociology of science, Bruno Latour and Steve Woolgar established that the desire to participate in a major discovery is an important motivator for scientists as they consider whether they should take up (or abandon) a research problem. Although further work is needed, the simplest explanation for our results is that this behavior is widespread enough to detect at scale. A foundational advance, or something like it, draws the attention of scientists and causes them to change the direction of their research. They vote with their feet, staking their own reputation and careers by publishing on and citing the new idea. That upswell of interest is the foundation of our breakthrough signal. What kind of research does our model identify as a breakthrough? After building a model based on the patterns in our 21 preselected breakthroughs, we tested it by identifying all early signals of discovery from 1994 through 1997. Of the 18 signals we found in that time period, 17 can be traced forward in time to a breakthrough. Examples include super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (see the image above), the directed evolution of proteins and enzymes (Chemistry Nobel, 2018), and sequencing the human genome (National Medal of Science, 2008). The discovery of the role of leptin signaling in obesity is a particularly interesting case study. Around 1950, scientists noticed the existence of a type of lab mouse that suffered from a unique inherited form of obesity. When given the freedom to choose their own diet, these mice ate more than normal and preferred food that was high in fat. Researchers had few clues as to why the animals overate; early experiments pointed to the existence of a soluble ob factor found circulating in the bloodstream that regulated appetite, but its identity was unknown. In 1994, Jeffrey Friedman and colleagues identified and sequenced the ob gene, noting that the protein it encoded appeared to fit the profile of a circulating factor. A year later, a trio of high-profile publications demonstrated that ob was a hormone that regulated body weight and fat deposition by regulating appetite. One of these was co-authored by Friedman, who christened it leptin from the ancient Greek word for thin. Using our model, the data from 1996 make it clear this advance would become a breakthrough. Scientists had flocked to study the biology of the new hormone, generating the flurry of new papers and citations required to produce a signal. One of these demonstrated that serum leptin concentrations reflected the amount of adipose tissue in the human body, providing clinical validation of the earlier mouse studies. Before the identification of leptin, scientists were unable to point to a specific molecule that controlled appetite and adiposity, so that it was impossible to rule out non-physiological causes of obesity; its characterization fundamentally changed our concept of weight gain. In 2010, Friedman and fellow pioneer Douglas Coleman were awarded a Lasker for the discovery. Our work also identifies breakthroughs in clinical practice and behavioral and social sciences, even though these areas are less likely to draw the attention of major prize committees. One example that falls into this category is the introduction of endovascular aneurysm repair, a minimally invasive surgical procedure for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm, a leading cause of death among Americans over the age of 65. Relative to the previous standard of care, it reduces in-hospital mortality by almost four-fold. In 2017, Timothy Chuter received the American College of Surgeons’ prestigious Jacobsen Innovation award for his multiple refinements to the technique. Another under-recognized breakthrough identified by our model is the development of standardized survey instruments to assess the quality of life for HIV+ patients. The antiretroviral cocktails introduced in the mid-1990s reduced AIDS mortality, but treatment came with serious side effects. The new evaluations showed that patients whose disease progressed had worse physical functioning than Americans with other chronic diseases, while those who were asymptomatic maintained a health-related quality of life on par with the overall US population. This evidence made it possible for patients and activists to argue that even in the absence of a total cure, and in spite of the side effects, alleviation of symptoms was a worthwhile priority for clinicians. My colleagues and I have failed to identify any significant recognition for the physicians and health policy experts who pioneered this advance, although in 2016, researchers called for the World Health Organization to set targets for good health-related quality of life as part of its framework to end the AIDS pandemic. From forecasting to funding How should science funders use our predictions? Any serious discussion of what we should do with this new capability needs to begin with an understanding of its limitations. We can’t (and shouldn’t) invest all of our resources in the small number of topics predicted to produce breakthroughs. Innovative new fields are born from existing ones; they rarely arise de novo. If funders don’t maintain a diverse portfolio, the breakthroughs of tomorrow will have no antecedents. Think of this as eating the seed corn, or killing the goose that lays the golden egg. There are also multiple goals of funding beyond basic scientific discovery, including translating discoveries into clinical practice, developing new technologies, supporting economic development, and training new scientists. The investments needed to accomplish these goals are likely different from those required to support emerging breakthroughs. Finally, we must be aware that we may not capture every instance of a breakthrough. The concept is fuzzy, and not every significant discovery is recognized with a major award. Further, breakthroughs are rare, meaning that our dataset is, by necessity, small. This makes formal estimates of accuracy challenging. Although our overall success rate appears to be high, any one signal may turn out to be a false positive. We found one apparent example: the development of the third generation COX-2 inhibitors, Vioxx and Celebrex, which were much celebrated in the early 2000s as effective but non-addictive pain relievers, meets all the algorithmic criteria of a breakthrough. Five years after it received FDA approval, researchers demonstrated that Vioxx was associated with serious cardiovascular complications, and the manufacturer voluntarily pulled the drug from the market. Celebrex remains available, although like other NSAIDs, it carries an FDA warning for increased cardiovascular risk. Decision makers who were overly focused on the breakthrough potential of this research might have wasted substantial resources nurturing an area that ultimately proved to be a failure—but so would those who relied on expert opinion at the time. That said, the potential benefits of funding the next mRNA vaccine or cancer immunotherapy years earlier than we might have are large. When we can’t assume the outcome of an action, it’s worth conducting an experiment. Can targeted support for areas that are poised to produce a breakthrough increase the return on scientific investment without cannibalizing future advances? With the necessary administrative infrastructure in place, conducting this experiment would be straightforward. First, identify all the breakthrough signals between 2018 and 2023, select half at random, and commit to a decade of investment. For biomedicine, a six year window should yield about 30 topics with the potential to produce a breakthrough. Providing strong support to half of these might be accomplished for $300 million a year. That’s roughly half of the recent annual budget of the NIH Common Fund or around 20% of the fiscal year 2025 budget for ARPA-H. After five years, then again at ten, compare to see which group — the one that was actively managed, or the control — produced more breakthroughs, and on what timescale. Although we used biomedicine as an example, the same experiment could just as well be run for physics, materials science, or any other discipline. Any attempt to undertake such an experiment should keep three points top of mind. First, we can predict the topic of future breakthroughs, but the people and vision for how to move the work forward are still important. In practice, this means success requires active program managers with the expertise to develop the science and the authority to do so, including by recruiting investigators. Second, we would be wise to learn from the failures of past attempts to fund transformative research. High among these are funding modestly repackaged work, confusing the genuinely novel with the merely unfamiliar, and relying too much on incumbent investigators. All of these risks can be mitigated by thoroughly and intelligently integrating high quality data into portfolio management. Finally, we need to have patience. Even with strong funding support, producing a breakthrough takes time. If supporting breakthroughs is the best way to nurture the birth of new fields, we also need to accurately describe and properly manage the other two stages, so that we invest wisely throughout the productive lifetime of ideas and divest once they reach the point of diminishing returns. We would benefit from more study of all of these phases, especially the transition from one to another. More research could answer questions like: When does a breakthrough become an established field? How do the availability of funding, the size and characteristics of the available workforce, and the accumulation of evidence that disagrees with prevailing models affect a field’s decline? Exactly how do old ideas give birth to new ones, and can we speed up the process? The more we understand about the dynamics of scientific progress, the better we can maximize the odds that our curiosity leads to results. I’d call that finding a way to make our own luck.
89 Middle Tennessee nonprofits awarded $2.1M in grants by HCA Healthcare Foundation
A $2.1 million round of grants is headed to dozens of nonprofit organizations across Middle Tennessee.
How a new White House proposal could fundamentally change American science
Join us for a discussion on the potential impacts of a Trump admin plan to overhaul how federal research grants are awarded and administered.
Acadia Science Fellows to study and map coastal erosion
WINTER HARBOR — Two scientists have been awarded fellowships to conduct research in Acadia National Park, both focused on coastal erosion.
Interstellar Arc wins “Best Location-Based Entertainment” at prestigious Auggie Awards
LAS VEGAS — Interstellar Arc at AREA15, the awe-inspiring, visionary experience from the Emmy®-winning creators at Felix & Paul Studios, announces it has been awarded “Best Location-Based Enter…
Finnish scientist Wickström awarded Körber Prize for cell research
Finnish researcher Sara Wickström has been awarded the Körber European Science Prize for discovering that cells sense physical forces, a finding that might open new possibilities for the treatment of ...
Trump says repairs at Reflecting Pool will be 'taken care of' immediately
The firm that was awarded a $14.7 million contract to line the pool said it would make repairs “as part of the warranty”
UWF professor secures $825,000 grant to support cancer survivors - University of West Florida Newsroom
University of West Florida Assistant Professor of Public Health Dr. Karishma Chhabria Unrue has been awarded a nearly $825,000 grant through the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund to lead a statewide initiative focused on improving the health and well-being of breast and prostate cancer survivors. The award represents one of the largest externally funded research grants […]
University of Hawaiʻi researchers awarded $12M grant to advance AI, data science in medicine
The funding will be dedicated to accelerating biomedical discoveries through AI and data science to benefit people in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region, and worldwide.
Coles awards more than $3.5 million to help turn producers’ ideas into reality
June 21, 2026 -- More than $3.5 million in grants has been awarded to eight small and medium-sized businesses across Australia through the lates...
UH researchers awarded $12M grant to advance AI, data science in medicine | University of Hawaiʻi System News
New center will support innovative biomedical research, develop future scientific leaders, and expand research infrastructure in Hawaiʻi.
O'Shaughnessy Ventures Backs Writer Telling the Human Story of Science
/PRNewswire/ -- O'Shaughnessy Ventures LLC (OSV), an investment firm that empowers creators, has awarded an O'Shaughnessy Fellowship to Jolie Gan, a writer...
Rousseeuw Prize Recognizes R Core Team's Role in Advancing Global Data Science
NEW YORK, June 19, 2026 — Five members of the R Core Team have been awarded the prestigious Rousseeuw Prize for Statistics for their decades of work building and maintaining […]
Paulson Wins $47 Million in Arbitration With Ex-Business Partner
John Paulson was awarded more than $47 million by an arbitrator who found that the billionaire’s former Puerto Rico business partner cheated him on one investment and usurped him on another.
Susan Solomon named 2026 Tang Prize laureate
MIT Professor Susan Solomon was awarded the 2026 Tang Prize in Sustainable Development for her work on the recovery of the ozone layer and the lasting impacts of carbon dioxide emissions on the Earth’s climate.
CLEVELAND MONSTERS UNIQUE PARTNERSHIPS AWARDED AT AHL TEAM BUSINESS…
The Cleveland Monsters are proud to announce the team’s front office received multiple awards at the 2026 American Hockey League Team Business Meetings,…
Latvia pilots citizen engagement in research grant evaluations
Latvia has introduced an element of citizen engagement to the evaluation of nationally funded research grants. The aim is to both create more connections between science and society, and to improve the quality of its evaluations. The move comes as research funders across Europe are experimenting with ways to improve evaluation processes in the face of a sharpened focus on science’s impact on society. Evaluators of grant applications submitted to Latvia’s Fundamental and Applied Research Programme (FLPP), the country’s main research funder, will this year have the option of consulting citizen feedback on challenges the public thinks science should focus on to inform their decisions. “In recent years, both public discussions and policy-level debates in Latvia have highlighted the importance of demonstrating how publicly funded research contributes to society, the economy and the resolution of real-world challenges,” said a source at the Latvian Council of Science (LCS), which manages the FLPP. “At the same time, research institutions themselves expressed interest in improving the project evaluation framework while continuing to ensure that funding is awarded to the highest-quality projects,” the source added. The citizen input comes from a survey that was conducted between 25 February and 16 March 2025, to which 1,737 people responded. It gathered information on what the public views as problem areas for Latvia, and the role of science and technology in providing solutions to these problems. A summary of these responses has been included as an annex to the FLPP 2026 call for proposals that evaluators can refer to, purely in an advisory manner, when judging proposals. Results from the survey show that the main problem areas identified by the public were in healthcare and public health, followed by the development of new treatment methods and medicines, and then digital technology, data security and cyber security. At the bottom of the list was research aimed at acquiring new knowledge about the universe, matter and the laws of nature. Further analysis looked at the public view of the possible role of science in solving these problems. The survey charted 4,167 individual responses based on open-ended questions that were derived from the participants’ answers. The analysis again found that medical and health sciences topped the scoring, with 788 responses referring to the field. Humanities and the arts were bottom of the list, with 625. Digging further into the details, the survey suggests citizens are aware of and concerned about a number of research areas. This includes technologies and innovation to improve the environment or reduce pollution, the development of modern military technologies and cybersecurity tools, and the development and application of artificial intelligence, among others. “We hope this initiative will help strengthen public trust in science and create a more meaningful dialogue between researchers and society,” the LCS source said, adding that it offers benefits to researchers, evaluators and to the general public. More space for citizen engagement in evaluationsThere is a gradual but increasing use of citizen engagement in research evaluation processes around Europe, especially in healthcare, but it remains relatively rare, said Henry Sauermann, a professor at the European School of Management and Technology in Berlin and an expert in citizen science.“Given that we are at a point where citizen involvement is extremely limited, there is presumably space for more, but it's not that we should do it just because we want to do it,” he told Science|Business. He said some research lends itself better to having citizen input, and this usually tends to be on the applied end of the science spectrum where the public can offer useful feedback based on their experiences. He added that advising scientists on certain topics to study is also a useful approach, in the way that Latvia is doing. “The public does fund a lot of science, there's a lot of tax money going into this. We of course do want to preserve academic freedom, but it's also not unreasonable to incorporate more feedback or input from citizens where possible,” he said. Related articlesCitizen science: where, when, and how to let the public contribute to researchHow can Europe cope with a flood of AI-assisted research grant proposals?Data Corner: Horizon Europe’s AI, digital and data call success rate is 5.2%There are several ways of involving citizens in science funding. The most minimal way is having a few representatives on a panel, such as members of a patient group or union. The most direct way is crowdsourcing funding for specific projects. There is an increasing number of online platforms that allow the public to chip in to support scientific proposals.Sauermann studied this in a recent paper and found that it can have its uses, but it still is not clear if there are benefits to it. There are various assumptions linked to citizen engagement, for example that it increases public trust in science, or that it provides a representative view of what the public thinks about science. These are not necessarily true, Sauermann found. People who participate in engagement activities tend to already be very trusting of science, and, on the whole, it is generally the well-off and well educated who contribute, giving a narrow view of public opinion. On whether citizen input can help manage the increasing number of proposals that are being submitted due to assistance from AI, Sauermann is more sceptical. “The obvious answer to the flood of AI-written proposals is AI-driven evaluation,” he said, adding that it doesn’t mean citizen engagement shouldn’t be a part of evaluations in a well thought-out manner. Southern Denmark’s successful approachOne successful example of citizen engagement in science evaluations was implemented in southern Denmark. Between 2019 and 2025, citizens in the region were invited to vote to fund one of five pre-selected projects in the field of healthcare. The project, called A Healthier Southern Denmark, was a collaboration between regional authorities, the University of Southern Denmark, and two media partners. Over the seven years, there were 75,000 votes and significant public engagement online and on social media. “It was a bit of a wild project, we’d never done something like that before and we were a bit nervous about what would be said in the media about it. But actually, people were very positive,” said Anne Kathrine Overgaard, one of the main organisers of the project from the University of Southern Denmark. The university and its researchers have learned a lot from the experience, particularly about engaging with society and shaping their research to match real-world needs. This is important with Europe’s increasing focus on competitiveness and bringing innovations to market faster, Overgaard said. She hopes to see more citizen engagement in evaluation processes and in science more broadly. “For many years, citizen engagement has been a bit of an add-on to proposals, just to check a box. But I think things are changing,” she said. It’s less about citizens just gathering data and more “about the dialogue between the public and the scientists,” she said. The initiative ended last year as the team wanted to regroup to find fresh momentum. The development of AI and AI-written proposals has made Overgaard reflect on how the project could be reworked to help evaluators. She hopes to bring it back in the future. “It could be a good idea to try this initiative again in a slightly re-worked format,” she said.
Trump DOJ sues NY health officials, alleging ‘backroom deal’ in home care overhaul
The Justice Department alleges the state officials improperly awarded a contract to provide home health services.
The Courtroom Battle Over Baby Formula Isn’t About Science
A jury in a Cook County, Illinois, court awarded families $70 million in April after concluding that infant formula caused a devastating illness in premature babies. However, that conclusion hinged on a scientific theory that lacks validated evidence. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said its recent study of chemical contamination in infant formula produced by Abbott Laboratories … Continue reading "The Courtroom Battle Over Baby Formula Isn’t About Science"
Rockies' Sean Sullivan: Awarded another start
Rockies' Sean Sullivan: Awarded another start
Toledo announces lineup for new live concert series
The Levitt BLOC Toledo Music Series was made possible thanks to a multi-year Levitt Music Series grant that was awarded to the city.
Three Lehigh University materials science students awarded 2026 NSF Graduate Research Fellowships
Three students from Lehigh University's Department of Materials Science and Engineering have received National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, one of the nation's most competitive honors for emerging STEM researchers. Their success highlights the impact of a course designed to strengthen scientific communication, proposal writing, and fellowship preparation.
City & Guilds bosses awarded themselves millions in bonuses, investigation finds
Report finds Kirstie Donnelly and Abid Ismail paid bonuses ‘without authorisation or knowledge’ of superiors
State names first round of projects funded by federal rural health program
The state this week announced its first round of federal rural health grant funding, which allocated $36 million to projects to help communities with one-time infrastructure improvements and improve technological gaps. The Nevada Health Authority on Monday named the 25 projects that were awarded funding as part of the $180 million part of the Rural […]
ECU Health awarded Duke Endowment funds for maternal, infant health initiative
Roanoke Rapids and Halifax County News from RRSpin
Husky Productions wins national 2026 College Sports Media Award
Husky Productions was awarded for outstanding live non-game production last month in Atlanta.
FSU awards inaugural Clinical Catalyst grants to advance bold healthcare innovation
Florida State University, through FSU Health, has awarded $250,000 to the five inaugural recipients of its Clinical Catalyst Grant Program, an initiative
Emory gets $15M NIH grant to research Superfund sites’ health effects
Emory University has been awarded a five-year, $15 million grant from the NIH to study the link between environmental contaminants and human health in Brunswick, Georgia, which is home to four of the state's 23 Superfund sites.
Five Americans Are Among The Ten Scientists Awarded Kavli Prizes For 2026
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters has announced the 10 recipients of the 2026 Kavli Prize in the fields of astrophysics, nanoscience, and neuroscience.
New OMB rule could break science in the United States
The drug that saved your mother. The treatment your doctor recommended. The clinical trial that bought someone you love more time. None of it was inevitable. It required a system built to operate outside politics and sustained over decades, because science doesn’t operate on the timeline of a politician. That system is now under direct threat. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed a new rule to regulate all federal grants, not just science, but housing, education, defense, NASA and everything in between, that would fundamentally change how research is conducted in the United States. There have been a lot of fires in the past 16 months, and if everything is an emergency, nothing is an emergency. But this is a very big deal. These rules would strip away the independence that has kept science from becoming a political tool. The good news is there’s still something we can all do. How the grant system was designed to work When I was a new faculty member, I was full of millions of ideas, so I sat down and wrote an NIH proposal. I worked on it for months and thought it was so good. Then I sent it to my mentor. It came back covered in comments. Places where my reasoning wasn’t as airtight as I’d thought, methods that could be stronger, gaps in my thinking that I had been too close to the work to see. It stung, as honest feedback always does, but peer review almost always makes the work better. In fact, it’s the backbone of how American science has functioned for generations. At NIH, submitted proposals go to a panel of scientists who have experience in the field. These are the people who can read research methods and spot their weaknesses, who understand when an experiment is designed well and when it isn’t. Applications are scored rigorously, and often only the top 3-20% of proposals receive funding. The people making funding decisions are required to justify them based on these reviews. To be clear: this is not a perfect system, and good science still goes unfunded more often than any of us would like due to limited resources. There is also criticism that peer review may undervalue bold ideas that are risky but could have high payoffs. But the peer review system is nonetheless a meaningful part of the grant selection process. While thoughtful and careful changes could improve the system, the changes being proposed by OMB will not make things better. The rule that could change everything Through this OMB proposal, the system that helps decide what gets funded is being dismantled. There are many troubling elements buried in this proposal, but three provisions stand out in particular. Each would be damaging alone. Together, they would change what kind of science gets done in America, and who it serves. 1. Political appointees would decide which science gets funded, and peer review would be explicitly sidelined or ignored. The guidelines your doctor follows, the standards that determine what’s in your air and water, the drugs that get approved for your family: all of it starts with a funding decision. Right now, that decision is made by scientists who can evaluate whether the work is actually sound and whether it could move the needle forward. Under this proposal, funding decisions could be made by political appointees. The careful, expertise-driven review process that shapes grant funding would be effectively sidelined. That means that a poorly designed study could get funded simply because someone in a political office liked the sound of it, while rigorous, important work doesn’t get funded because it no longer aligns with the administration’s priorities. In other words, critical work that benefits all of us could now be missed just because it has become politically inconvenient. 2. Grants could be canceled at any point, without warning, in the middle of ongoing work. Say your tax dollars have been paying for a cancer study for two years. The grant was awarded for five years, so the team is mid-experiment. There are three additional years’ worth of answers that could change how the disease is treated for hundreds of thousands of people. With this new rule, the federal government could cancel the remaining funding tomorrow, walk away from the commitment it made with your money, and have no legal obligation to finish what it started. This is a huge waste of money. There are rarely other sources of funding for this work, which means the team, the graduate students, postdocs, and research staff who have dedicated years of their careers to this project could lose their jobs. Patients who have contributed their time to studies may not see it turn into useful learnings for others. Every hour of work already completed could result in nothing useful. Science can take decades to get to tangible outcomes. It needs a stable funding system to flourish. 3. Researchers would have a harder time communicating their findings without pre-approval from the federal government. There is a saying from Sir Mark Walport: “Science isn’t finished until it’s communicated.” Science is no use to anyone if it is kept locked away in the labs that produced the data. The proposed rule could make communicating research findings harder in a number of ways: Make it harder for scientists to widely share their findings in scientific journals. Publication costs, including journal fees that allow for broad public access, could not be paid for by federal funds which is often how scientists pay these costs. Restrict researchers from engaging publicly about how their findings should inform policy or public health guidelines. This would restrict scientists from doing the work that transforms years of lab work into decisions that actually affect people’s lives. Make it harder for scientists to attend conferences. Conferences would now need to be approved by the federal agency at the time of grant award. This disadvantages conferences or publications that are not politically aligned. Conferences are a key way in which scientists learn about work happening in their field so they can collaborate and build on each other’s findings. What good is science with a muzzle? The long-term impact These changes could (and hopefully would) be reversed under the next administration. But by then, damage has been done. Once projects are halted or denied funding by political appointees, people leave their science careers for other paths or even leave the country to do their amazing science elsewhere. You cannot pause a scientific study the way you pause a subscription you decided isn’t useful anymore. You cannot freeze a research team that depends on salaries to feed their families, causing a scramble for replacement funding that, in most cases, simply does not exist. When the money stops, everything stops, and all the work in progress and its potential are lost. Despite all of the language about reducing waste, fraud, and abuse, this new proposed rule increases the administrative burden tremendously. Every researcher watching this unfold will make a rational decision: don’t start anything that will take a decade to finish. This includes not building a team around funding that could vanish, or asking the big questions that need patience and stability to answer. The most consequential science, the kind that produces the treatments and the breakthroughs that reach your doctor’s office twenty years from now, is exactly the science that would be abandoned first. This is still a proposal, so we can all do something Some worry this rule is already a done deal. But by law, OMB is required to open a public comment period. Those comments matter because they inform members of Congress, they can be used in litigation, and they create a public record. So here’s what you can do: Submit a public comment. The public comment period on this proposed change is open until July 13. Anyone can submit a comment, and OMB is required to respond to substantial ones. Each comment must be different to count as distinct; identical comments will be counted only once. Comment as an individual, not on behalf of your organization. Here’s a full resource to help you, with useful examples, but in general: Share a story about how science or federal funding has benefitted you or is involved in your work. Are you or someone you loved a cancer survivor? Do you know someone with Alzheimer’s? Have you received NIH/NSF or other federal funding? All of these can be stories you use to highlight why you care. Explain why you’re worried about these proposed changes. You can use the wording found here or in other resources to help you. Ask them to withdraw this proposed rule. Contact your elected representatives. Congress allocates money to federal agencies to spend, and it has oversight of how that process works. You can let your representatives know this proposed change concerns you and ask them to intervene. There are levers they can push that can help at this moment. Let others know why federal funding matters. This isn’t just about science, but ALL federal grants, including for education systems, defense projects, and more. The process, including the importance of federal funding, is invisible to many. We can all make it more visible by sharing how science benefits us and why we value it. You can also share this article, or any of the resources linked here, to help spread awareness! Bottom line We are quickly losing ground in scientific research in the U.S. More changes, like the proposed rule by OMB, would decimate our ability to conduct research here, leaving us all worse off: fewer treatments for pancreatic cancer, less research on pollution impacts, fewer answers for patients with rare disease, and more unaddressed health needs. The impact will be very real for all of us, regardless of where we stand politically. Using our voices for science is more important than ever. Love, LM Big thanks to Dr. Megan Ranney for reading this over and providing brilliant insights, as always. Dr. Liz Marnik, PhD, is Executive Director of The Evidence Collective at YLE and a science communicator and immunologist working at the intersection of public trust, science, and public health. You can find her on Substack, LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads. Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) comprises a team of experts, ranging from physicians to immunologists to epidemiologists to nutritionists, working together with one goal: to “Translate” ever-evolving public health science so that people are well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. The YLE suite of newsletters reaches over 475,000 people across more than 132 countries. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below: Subscribe
UT Health San Antonio awarded grant to advance cervical cancer screening
Content provided by Lauren Michalk UT Health San Antonio has been selected as a recipient of the American Cancer Society’s Self-Collected Human Papillomavirus Readiness Pilot (SHaRP) grant, a national initiative designed to help health care organizations prepare for and implement HPV self-collection as part of routine cervical cancer screening. SHaRP supports the integration of human papillomavirus […]
23 student researchers receive 2026 NSF fellowships - College of Arts and Sciences
The National Science Foundation awarded work in STEM-related fields such as artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering and marine ecology.
UT Health San Antonio awarded American Cancer Society SHaRP grant to advance cervical cancer screening
Contact: Eileen Teves, 210-450-7239, tevese@uthscsa.edu Content provided by Lauren Michalk SAN ANTONIO, June 9, 2026 – UT Health San Antonio has been selected as a recipient of the American Cancer Society’s Self-Collected Human Papillomavirus Readiness Pilot (SHaRP) grant, a national initiative designed to help health care organizations prepare for and implement HPV self-collection as part […]
Star Trek star's family awarded $13M in heart failure malpractice case
Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt. Uhura in Star Trek, died from undiagnosed and untreated heart failure after seeking medical treatment.
Materials lab in national program to develop wearable eye health system
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has awarded up to $75.8 million to four research teams through its Ocular Laboratory for Analysis of Biomarkers program. Researchers from Penn State will develop biosensors for the Closed-Loop Sensing and Microdosing for Dry Eye and Systemic Disease Management (COSMIC) team led by Lacristat, a California-based ophthalmology company.
Silverthorne hands out $40,000 in business improvement grants
The Silverthorne Town Council approved $40,000 in grants awarded to five local businesses intended for site enhancement and economic development projects. In the 15th year of the Business Improvement Grant Program, the following five businesses...
Trinity School of Medical Laboratory Science achieves maximum accreditation
STEUBENVILLE — Trinity Health System’s School of Medical Laboratory Science Program has been awarded the maximum 10-year accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. As the premier agency for ensuring the highest standards of education in clinical laboratory sciences, NAACLS grants this prestigious 10-year status only to programs that demonstrate exceptional educational […]
School of Medical Laboratory Science achieves maximum accreditation
STEUBENVILLE — Trinity Health System’s School of Medical Laboratory Science Program has been awarded the maximum 10-year accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. As the premier agency for ensuring the highest standards of education in clinical laboratory sciences, NAACLS grants this prestigious 10-year status only to programs that demonstrate exceptional educational […]
Seattle granted NFL Franchise on this day 52 years ago
Seattle was awarded an NFL franchise 52 years ago today. Look back at the origins of the Seahawks and their 1976 start.
Leo Messi Awarded the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports
Inter Miami CF captain Leo Messi has been awarded the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, one of the most prestigious international accolades recognizing careers of extraordinary significance and impact on society. Presented annually by the Princess of Asturias Foundation in Spain, the award recognizes individuals and institutions from
Elections to top science bodies test Croatia’s gender equality in research
Croatia’s track-record on gender equality in science has been both questioned and lauded in recent months, following both bad and good news on the topic. On the one hand, a senior awards committee was announced without a single woman researcher included. On the other, the national science academy welcomed its first cohort of fellows with more women than men.Members of the committee, which gives national awards recognising scientific achievement, are proposed by the ministry of science and endorsed by the parliament. The current line-up does include a woman, but she is culture minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek rather than a researcher. Even then, she didn’t make it into the photograph released to announce the appointments on April 16. “The image speaks a thousand words,” says Tanja Rudež, a science journalist for Jutarnji List newspaper. “I am surprised that none of these men, all well-known scientists, saw a problem with the fact that there was not a single successful female scientist on the committee,” she told Science|Business.Ivan Đikić, a prominent Croatian biochemist based at Goethe University Medical School, commented on LinkedIn that the news illustrated a “sad truth” about the state of science in Croatia.“It [. . .] reveals a system where women, despite contributing a substantial share of high-quality, internationally competitive science, are systematically excluded from the very processes that determine recognition and influence,” he wrote. Some 60% of researchers in Croatia are women, according to the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, and they perform well in international competitions. For example, of the 12 European Research Council (ERC) grants awarded to Croatian researchers, seven went to women.“So how is it possible that decision-making bodies are still dominated by men over 60, while not a single female ERC laureate is involved in the selection process?” asked Đikić. “This is not a marginal oversight; it is a structural failure.” The ministry of science did not reply to a request for comment. The awards committee is not unusual. For example, a scientific advisory body announced by the ministry of demographics in April comprises 35 men and five women. The board of the Croatian Science Foundation, newly appointed by the parliament, is a little better, with five men and two women, but still unequal. “This is especially significant because such bodies do not merely distribute prestige. They shape research priorities, funding allocation and long-term scientific development,” Marija Lugarić, chair of the parliament’s committee on gender equality, told Science|Business. “Representation here matters not only symbolically, but materially.”Referring to the awards committee and the board of the science foundation, Lugarić says that while both bodies were appointed by parliament, neither met the minimum 40% gender balance threshold that Croatian law and EU guidelines expressly recommend for public bodies.Đikić wants to see EU institutions put pressure on the government to ensure basic standards of fairness, transparency and democratic governance in science policy are met. “Meaningful change will not come without pressure,” he wrote. “It must intensify both within Croatia and at the level of European institutions. Anything less undermines the credibility of Europe’s commitment to excellence and inclusion in science.”Rudež also underlined the importance of talking and writing about this topic, “because public opinion in Croatia does influence changes in the status and visibility of women in science.”The European Commission has not yet responded to a request for comment.Good news from the academyA more positive story came from the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts on 21 May, with the announcement of seven new women fellows and five men. This is the first time in the academy’s 165-year history that women have outnumbered men in a new intake.One of the new fellows, two-time ERC grantee Iva Tolić, credits the academy leadership with trying to be more modern and inclusive, representing the whole community better. “The academy is really aware that so far, before this election, there were very few women,” she told Science|Business. “So, they are actively trying to make this more equal.”Related articlesExplained: How the MSCA is close to achieving gender balanceCall for EU to leverage academic freedom in global talent raceRudež is more cautious, noting that despite the academy’s “breakthrough this year [. . .] it is still a predominantly male institution, with only 18% women.”This reflects a wider imbalance in Croatia’s research landscape. “The key levers of power in science are still in the hands of men,” she went on. “For example, all 14 rectors of private and public universities are men.”Similarly, Lugarić says a structural glass ceiling still exists in Croatian science, which is “most visible precisely where power is exercised.”She cites data from the Commission’s She Figures 2024 report, which shows that Croatia ranks second in the EU for gender equality in research and innovation overall, with an equality index of 79.6 out of 100. It is in the top five for women’s career advancement, participation in research; representation across all research sectors and for scientific publications.In stark contrast, it ranks second to last when it comes to women in decision-making positions in science. “This is not a coincidence,” Lugarić says. “It is a structural pattern.”Informal barriersThe persistent under-representation of women in the highest structures of Croatia’s academies, boards, award committees and leadership positions is not down to formal barriers, Lugarić says, but arises from more subtle obstacles such as “informal networks, persistent expectations regarding traditional gender roles and the unequal distribution of care responsibilities.”Tolić would like to see more support for young women in terms of affordable housing and child support, and higher salaries. Currently, she says, salaries in science stay low for the first 10-15 years, while housing and spaces in kindergarten are limited and expensive. “You have to work a lot, you get very little money, so it’s not great to have a family in this situation,” she says.But despite the challenges, Tolić is optimistic, saying that gender equality in research in Croatia is “definitely improving and going in the right direction.” The situation is particularly promising in biology, she adds, where most full professors, heads of department and deans of faculties are women. Lugarić, too, see the glass ceiling “very slowly, cracking,” and cites the academy election as an example that structural change is possible. Yet the situation in the national awards committee is a “stark reminder that without a conscious, systemic commitment to gender balance, progress will remain slow and uneven.”
KBR Awarded $8 Billion Antarctic Science and Engineering Support Contract by U.S. National Science Foundation
KBR secures an $8 billion Antarctic contract to support U.S. scientific operations over 20 years.Quiver AI SummaryKBR has been awarded an $8 billion ceiling Antarctic Science and Engineering Support Contract by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), which will span 20 years starting in June 2026. This contract involves providing operations, maintenance, logistics, and science support for the U.S. Antarctic Program, which manages three year-r
UC researcher secures $3.3M grant to study microplastics’ impact on heart
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences awarded a $3.3M grant to University of Cincinnati researcher Hong‑Sheng Wang, PhD, to study how microplastics and nanoplastics affect cardiovascular health.
Four researchers win data harmonization competition
The U.S. National Science Foundation National Synthesis Center for Emergence in the Molecular and Cellular Sciences (NCEMS) at Penn State has awarded four researchers from across the world for their efforts in a competition to build machine learning-based approaches for streamlining publicly available datasets for reuse.
129 Huskers receive stipends for summer research projects
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has awarded stipends to 129 Husker undergraduates to participate in research with a faculty mentor this summer.
From Wittgenstein to water capture: Meet the valedictorians and salutatorians of CC and SEAS
For the four graduating seniors awarded with the highest academic distinctions in Columbia College and the School of Engineering and Applied Science—the valedictorians and salutatorians—the recognition came as a surprise.
KDHE awards nearly $80M to health care organizations across Kansas
39 organizations across Kansas were awarded grants, as part of KDHE’s initiative to strengthen rural health care in the state.
State Airfields Receive Funding
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Chair of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, has reported that 24 municipal airfields in Mississippi have been awarded just over $20 million for facility improvements. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the third round of FY2026 Airport Improvement Program grants, which meet Airport Safety and Resilient […]
White House moves to give political appointees more power over federal grants
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump's administration on Friday moved to give political appointees more power over the billions of dollars in grants awarded by federal agencies, a move scientists say puts critical research funding into the hands of partisans without relevant expertise.
White House Moves to Give Political Appointees More Power Over Federal Grants
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump's administration on Friday moved to give political appointees more power over the billions of dollars in grants awarded by federal agencies, a move scientists say puts critical research funding into the hands of partisans without relevant expertise. In what ...
$3 million awarded for small and minority businesses in Maryland
The Maryland Department of Commerce has awarded six businesses with a total of $3 million in loans and equity investments through the Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority (MSBDFA). MSBDFA provides various funds to small and...
High Point Wins 2025-26 Sasser Cup Trophy
HILTON HEAD, S.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – High Point University has been awarded the Big South Conference’s George F. “Buddy” Sasser Cup Trophy for the 2025-26 athletic season, marking the school’s fifth consecutive year achieving the top overall athletic season in the Big South. The Cup was presented to High Point Thursday evening at the league’s annual Hall of Fame & Awards Banquet, which was held at the Westin Resort & Spa in Hilton Head, S.C. The Panthers also clinched the league’s Women’s and Men’s All-Sports trophies for the third-straight year -- becoming the first member institution to sweep all three awards in back-to-back-to-back seasons.
Dr. Alexander Chiu Awarded UW Health Rising Star Clinical Practice Award
Dr. Alexander Chiu, assistant professor in the Division of Endocrine Surgery, was awarded the UW Health Rising Star Clinical Practice Award at the Physician Excellence Awards Reception on May 20. The UW Health Rising Star …
Oxford honors Russell Rothman with prestigious professorship
The one-year professorship at Oxford University is awarded annually to a senior scholar “of the highest distinction” from the United States.
DCAT Awards Grants To Student Scientists at the 2026 Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair - DCAT Value Chain Insights
The Drug, Chemical & Associated Technologies Association (DCAT) has awarded $30,000 in grants to student scientists of six projects who participated in the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF), the…
Argonne to lead $2.8M project to accelerate catalyst discovery
Argonne National Laboratory has been awarded $2.77 million by ARPA-E to speed the discovery of industrial catalysts using AI, automation and rapid testing through the CATALCHEM-E program.
Fiesta Sports Foundation and AZ Blue Select 20 Arizonans for 2026-27 Empowering Diversity Scholarship
Twenty Arizona residents were awarded the Empowering Diversity Scholarship ahead of the 2026-27 academic year through a partnership between Fiesta Sports Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue). Scholarship funds will provide financial support for recipients pursuing post-secondary education or completing their GED (General Educational Development).
A state grant to boost soil health is in high demand among Minnesota farmers
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture awarded $4.7 million in grants this year. The funds are intended to share the cost of purchasing equipment needed for improved conservation practices.
Meet the 2026–2027 Dhablania and Kim Family Global Medicine and Health Fellows
Seven students and trainees have been awarded 2026–2027 Dhablania and Kim Family Global Medicine and Health Fellowships through the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Thanks to generous support from the Dhablania and Kim Family, this year’s cohort will pursue research and clinical projects in India, Cambodia, South Korea, Peru and Uganda, engaging in cross-cultural learning while gaining firsthand experience with global health issues.
Dayton Business Journal: Wright State, Premier Health secure $2.5M grant for expansion of healthcare program
A $2.5 million grant — the first of its kind awarded in Ohio — will allow two major organizations to expand a critical healthcare program in Dayton. Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine and Premier Health received a $2.5 … Continue reading →
Sixers' Tyrese Maxey named to All-NBA third team
Tyrese Maxey was awarded for his impressive numbers throughout the season.
Sister entrepreneurs’ local business receives “Main Street America” grant
Hinton-based souvenir shop, Hinton Outfitters, announced recently it was awarded the $20,000 grant thanks to American Express and Main Street America.
Sister entrepreneurs’ local business receive “Main Street America” grant
Hinton-based souvenir shop, Hinton Outfitters, announced recently it was awarded the $20,000 grant thanks to American Express and Main Street America.
UC Davis Undergraduates Take Top Prize at Big Bang! Business Competition
UC Davis Mike and Renée Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship awarded nearly $100,000 at the 26th annual Big Bang! Business Competition, with the top prize going to First Bite, a biomedical engineering student team developing a safer device to secure breathing tubes for infants.
Navy Researcher Kathryn Wahl ’87 Receives Award for Breakthroughs in Interfacial Science
Kathryn Anderson Wahl ’87, a senior researcher at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), has been awarded the 2025 E.O. Hulburt Annual Science Award for pioneering research that has advanced the…
Mercer Health awarded Acute Stroke Ready Certification from The Joint Commission
Mercer Health has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Acute Stroke Ready Certification. Mercer Health underwent a rigorous onsite review on February 6, 2026. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards including program management and supporting self-management. […]
NIH awards $50 million to UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science
The UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science has been awarded a seven-year, $50 million renewal of its Clinical and Translational Sciences Award.
Wartburg Claims 22nd Consecutive A-R-C All-Sports Trophy; Earns 15th Triple Crown
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – For the 22nd consecutive year, Wartburg College claimed the Combined All-Sports Championship Trophy, awarded to the conference's top overall athletic program, announced by the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) today.
Sports promoter Barry Hearn to receive civic honour
The sports promoter and founder of Matchroom says he is "honoured" to be awarded the title.
2026 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship Award
Undergraduate senior biochemistry student Lillian Ott (Mohanty group) has been awarded the 2026 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship, one of the country’s most prestigious honors for graduate students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The program, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force, supports doctoral students across a broad range of scientific and technological fields of strategic importance. This highly competitive fellowship provides full tuition, fees, and a monthly stipend for three years. In 2026, only 102 fellowships were awarded nationwide. Lillian also received an honorable mention for the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Studying biochemistry at UCLA, Lillian became excited about how her physical science background could be applied to solve environmental issues. She joined the Subsurface Engineering Analysis Laboratory (SEA Lab) led by Professor Sanjay Mohanty in the Samueli’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In the SEA lab, she has studied the fate and transport of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are ubiquitous “forever chemicals” and known carcinogens that impact water quality worldwide. This fall, she will begin her Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University with Professor Nina Zhao. Her research will be focused on metabolomics and the discovery of unrecognized chemical determinants of environmental and human health. “I have seen the serious and unforeseen environmental and health consequences from man-made chemicals like PFAS and microplastics, which are often only appreciated after the damage has been done. I hope that my research can lead to more sustainable chemical design and inform policy and solutions-based innovation in public health and water quality engineering,” Lillian said. Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penjen@g.ucla.edu.
Biology professor awarded the 2026 Karin E. Foley Women’s Leadership Award
Janine Kwapis, Paul Berg Early Career Professor in the Biological Sciences, was recently awarded with the 2026 Karin E. Foley Women’s Leadership Award.
UT Health San Antonio researcher awarded $2.1M award to study cellular structures - UT Health San Antonio
Like a busy restaurant kitchen, our cells depend on well-organized working spaces to assemble the “recipes” that keep the body healthy. When these spaces are disrupted, important functions like gene regulation and DNA repair can go awry, promoting diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration. UT San Antonio scientist David Libich, PhD, associate professor in […]
Kudos to Cheer Club, College of Business faculty, Cybersecurity team and more
Becky Cottrell, Ph.D., Department of Social Work, and Bridget Arend, Ph.D., School of Education Becky Cottrell from the Department of Social Work and Bridget Arend, Ph.D., from the School of Education co-authored an article recently published in an international journal. Read the article. Biff Baker, Ph.D., College of Business Biff Baker, Ph.D., received a Best in Track award from the Society for Advancement of Management for research examining bureaucratic inefficiencies within Section 8 subsidized housing programs. The study focuses on how administrative delays and communication breakdowns can create housing instability for families and discourage landlord participation. It also offers recommendations to improve accountability and trust in public housing systems. Brendan Fry, Ph.D., Department of Mathematics and Statistics Brendan Fry, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, co-authored the article “Modeling the Impact of Venous Collapsibility on Retinal Oxygenation,” published in the Journal of Theoretical Biology. The interdisciplinary research brought together scholars from the University of Delaware, Indiana University Indianapolis, McGill University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. Access the article. Bridget Arend, Ph.D., School of Education Bridget Arend, Ph.D., professor in the School of Education, co-published the book “Facilitating Seven Ways of Learning: A Resource for More Purposeful, Effective, and Enjoyable College Teaching, Second Edition” with James R. Davis. The book explores practical approaches to improving college teaching and student learning experiences. Buy the book. College of Business Faculty At the 2026 Western Decision Sciences Institute international conference, Sally Baalbaki-Yassine, Ph.D., Debora Gilliard, Ph.D., and David Lynn Hoffman, Ph.D., from the College of Business received the Best Case Study Paper Award for “Oreo: A Global Success Story in Brand Evolution and Market Leadership.” Lisa McVicker, Ph.D., and Apryl Brodersen, Ph.D., also had their paper, “Electronic Performance Monitoring: Employer Panacea or Legal Quagmire?” accepted for publication in the Journal of Business Leadership. Community Engagement Exchange Program Metropolitan State University of Denver was selected to host international Fellow Aleja Henao Espitia of Bogotá, Colombia through the Community Engagement Exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State. View Espitia's LinkedIn profile. David Varel, Ph.D., College of Letters, Arts and Sciences MSU Denver historian David Varel, Ph.D., has been awarded a 2026 ACLS Fellowship by the American Council of Learned Societies. The fellowship program supports outstanding scholarship in the humanities and social sciences, and selected just 63 scholars from more than 2,000 applicants this year. Varel’s project, “The Black Chicago School: Academic Activism in the Age of American Apartheid,” explores the work of Black scholars who challenged scientific racism, built alternative institutions and helped lay the foundation for the modern civil rights movement. The fellowship provides up to $60,000 to support full-time research and writing. Learn more about the fellowship. MSU Denver Office of Financial Aid Team Several MSU Denver employees were recognized for leadership and service during the Colorado Association of Financial Aid Administrators (CAFAA) conference held in May in Crested Butte. Don Holtzen, interim associate director of systems, chaired the conference and was recognized for his service as CAFAA conference chair and technology chair during the 2025-26 term. Holtzen also received the Postsecondary Institution Professional of the Year award, which recognizes financial-aid professionals who have made significant contributions to their institutions and to CAFAA. Tori Pacheco, associate director of Student Services, helped design décor and facilitate the conference and was recognized for her service as CAFAA secretary during the 2025-26 term. Destiny Candelaria, call center coordinator, served on the conference planning committee and presented on One Stops during the event. Michael Nguyen, executive director of Financial Aid and Scholarships, assisted as a CAFAA board member and was recognized for serving as president-elect during the 2025-26 term. Richard Balbag, program assistant I, received the Distinguished Support Staff Member of the Year award, honoring staff members who have made exceptional contributions to their financial-aid offices. Military Friendly Recognition Military Friendly has awarded MSU Denver Gold Status as a military-friendly university and ranked the University No. 7 nationally for military spouses. The recognition reflects MSU Denver’s strong support systems for veterans and military spouses, including transfer credit assistance and retention-focused resources. As of 2026, 1,050 military-connected students are enrolled at the University, advancing institutional priorities around serving veterans and supporting student retention. MSU Denver Cheer Club The MSU Denver Cheer Club earned third place in the 4-Year College Small Coed Intermediate division at the USA Spirit Nationals. Celebrate the win on Instagram. MSU Denver Cybersecurity Team An MSU Denver cybersecurity team earned first place in the Strategist category at the 2026 CYBER RECon National Competition hosted at Fort Meade, Maryland, by U.S. Cyber Command. Led by Jeffrey London, Ph.D., and undergraduate student Matthew Bopp, the team competed against universities and law schools nationwide with its 30-page legal analysis on cybersecurity and free speech titled “Freedom of Speech and MDM: Misinformation, Disinformation, and Malinformation.” The paper also earned Bopp a personal invitation to apply to the University of Maryland School of Law. MSU Denver Debate Team MSU Denver Debate won the 2026 Sierra Sustainability Summit hosted at Yosemite National Park in April. Students Kat Conte and Simon Bernhard bested teams from George Washington University, Gallaudet University, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the University of San Francisco and Tennessee Tech in the modified present-and-defend style competition. Their proposal recommended adapting Colorado’s Keep Colorado Wild Pass model to support California state parks facing budget constraints. Learn about the summit. MSU Denver Women’s Golf MSU Denver Women’s Golf was represented on the national stage this month as junior Neige Dunn competed as an individual at the NCAA West Regional. She became the first Roadrunner in 10 years to qualify for NCAA Regionals as an individual. Get the details.
23 student researchers receive 2026 NSF fellowships
The National Science Foundation awarded work in STEM-related fields such as artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering and marine ecology.
Longtime KOAT health expert Barry Ramo awarded UNM honorary doctorate
Longtime KOAT health expert Barry Ramo was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of New Mexico due to his decades of contributions in promoting heart health.
Augusta Sports Council awards 10 scholarships to high school students across CSRA
Ten graduating student-athletes from the CSRA have been awarded GAMES Scholarships.
Notice of Intent to Award Veterinarian Services RFP | Department of Health Services
The evaluation panel carefully reviewed and analyzed the proposals received in response to the above referenced solicitation. Based upon that review and analysis, we are recommending to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors that the contract be awarded to Dr. Catherine McKenzie.
Saints Jamie Meeks awarded ASPDA Service Award
Director of Sports Nutrition honored at American Sports and Performance Dietitians Association’s 18th Annual Conference
Mercer Health earns Numerous National Awards for Excellence in Care
Mercer Health continues to earn national recognition for delivering exceptional healthcare. Multiple prestigious organizations have honored Mercer Health for its outstanding patient experience, clinical excellence, and commitment to quality care. Newsweek Best-In-State Mercer Health has been named one of Newsweek’s Best‑In‑State Hospitals for 2026, a distinction awarded to hospitals that demonstrate superior performance across patient […]
Vanderbilt Health Hospitals receive Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Five-Star Overall Quality Ratings
These hospitals were awarded Five-Star ratings for overall quality of care for 2026, placing Vanderbilt Health’s hospitals among the top 12% in the nation for overall performance.
Museum of Science Fulldome Show Remixed: The Unexpected Side of Science Wins Best Science Film at 2026 Dome Fest West
BOSTON, May 13, 2026--The Museum of Science has been awarded the Best Science Film Award at the 2026 Dome Fest West, a leading international festival celebrating fulldome cinema and immersive media, for its original fulldome production Remixed: The Unexpected Side of Science.
Princeton Engineering - Two computer science students awarded Hertz Foundation fellowships for doctoral studies
The Hertz Foundation announced that two computer science students, Tyler Hou and Zachary Siegel, are among the 19 fellowship recipients in its 2026 cohort
UT Health Henderson Achieves Elite National Status with Straight “As” For Patient Safety
Eighth consecutive ‘A’ grades demonstrate dedication to patients Henderson, Texas (May 6, 2026) — UT Health Henderson was awarded an “A” Hospital Safety Grade for the eight consecutive grading rounds by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. This designates UT Health Henderson as a “Straight A” hospital, defined as […]
Bluffton school awarded STEM grant to launch Science Olympiad team
A Bluffton school is receiving new funding to strengthen science and technology education while launching its first-ever Science Olympiad team.
Piedmont University receives federal funds for Forensic Science Program
Piedmont University has been awarded $608,000 in federal funding, through the efforts of Sen. Jon Ossoff, to strengthen its forensic science program and expand workforce development opportunities throughout Georgia. University officials said the funding will help address growing workforce shortages in forensic science and provide enhanced training opportunities for students,
Southeastern awards Honorary Doctor of Business Administration degrees to Chief Gregory Pyle, Governor Bill Anoatubby, and Chief Gary Batton | Southeastern Oklahoma State University
At Friday’s graduate degree commencement ceremony, Southeastern Oklahoma State University awarded its highest honor – the Honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree – to a trio of individuals who have advanced the mission of Southeastern and ensured greater educational opportunities for its s
San Francisco 49ers Not Awarded Compensatory Pick for Jauan Jennings
The Vikings snatched up Jauan Jennings on a $13 million deal, but a critical timing technicality leaves San Francisco empty-handed despite losing their veteran wideout to Minnesota.
Central MN SBDC receives $5,000 grant from Midwest Business Finance Corporation
The Central Minnesota Small Business Development Center (SBDC), hosted by the Herberger Business School at St. Cloud State University, has been awarded a $5,000 grant from Midwest Business Finance Corporation (MBFC). In 2025 alone, the Central MN SBDC served 392 clients, including 228 who were brand new to the SBDC — all receiving free, high-quality business consulting and technical assistance. From [...]
2026 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship Award
First year Materials and Nanoscience graduate student Stéphane Miaule (Tolbert group) has been awarded the 2026 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship, one of the country’s most prestigious honors for graduate students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The program, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force, supports doctoral students across a broad range of scientific and technological fields of strategic importance. This highly competitive fellowship provides full tuition, fees, and a monthly stipend for three years. In 2026, only 102 fellowships were awarded nationwide, and Stéphane is the sole recipient from UCLA. Before transferring from Santa Monica College to UCLA, Stéphane interned at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center, where he researched the mechanical and thermodynamic properties of lunar regolith, as well as radiation shielding materials for lunar habitation development. At UCLA, he joined the Soft Materials Research Laboratory under Professor Qibing Pei, focusing on the synthesis and characterization of hafnium oxide nanocomposite scintillators. After earning his bachelor’s degree in chemistry, he remained in the Soft Materials Research Laboratory as a post-baccalaureate researcher for one year before joining Professor Sarah Tolbert’s group as a Ph.D. student. Stéphane’s Ph.D. research is focused on improving the properties of conjugated polymers, which are a family of plastic materials that can conduct electricity. Stéphane is specifically looking at self-assembling polymers that can be processed in water to create light-weight, flexible, high-conductivity polymer devices without the need for toxic or volatile organic solvents. After completing his Ph.D., Stéphane hopes to work in a national laboratory, researching semiconducting polymers for applications in new electronic devices. “The Graduate (1967) featured a memorable scene in which the protagonist was told that ‘there’s a great future in plastics.’ We know this still holds true today, as polymer research has expanded rapidly due to the wide variety of applications these materials enable. Through my work on semiconducting polymers, I hope to contribute to the continued development of plastic electronics,” Stéphane said. Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penjen@g.ucla.edu.
Meet 2026 RBSI Scholar, Ashton Washington, Towson University -
Ashton Washington, Towson University Ashton Washington is a junior majoring in political science at Towson University. Not only has she maintained Dean’s List throughout her collegiate career, but she has also been awarded the Provost [...]
Public Health Nurse Awarded CMS School Nurse of the Year | Mecklenburg County News Releases
Mecklenburg County Public Health Nurse Caitlyn Mathis of Greenway Park Elementary School has been named Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) Nurse of the Year for 2026. Nurse Mathis received the award at a surprise ceremony with Public Health leadership and CMS colleagues and students on May 6, National School Nurse Day.
Posthumous degree to be awarded to former animal science student
Alison Ciancio, a former animal science student, will posthumously be awarded her degree in recognition of her academic dedication, service to others and lasting impact on the Iowa State University community.
Rapid City home health nurse awarded for care, compassion
Home health nurse Sally Kangas travels many miles each day to care for her clients in the Rapid City area of South Dakota.
UCLA team awarded $5 million DARPA contract to develop AI for math advancement
Fields medalist Terence Tao is part of Team ALPHA, which aims to unlock progress in physics, cryptography and other challenging fields.
4 WVU students awarded prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships
The four West Virginia University students — Daniel Campa, of Morgantown; Colin Krisulevicz, of Salisbury, Maryland; Rebecca Ozbolt, of Akron, Ohio; and Samuel Stalnaker, of Atwater, California and Cowen — have joined the ranks of the nation’s top emerging researchers after earning National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships.
Meet the School of Biological Sciences Class of 2026 | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) School of Biological Sciences (SBS) takes an innovative approach to advanced science education. Graduates of the doctoral program go on to pursue a wide range of careers across academia and industry. On May 3, the SBS awarded six graduates Ph.D. degrees. Here, the class of 2026 reflects on their...
New WAM Grants Support Research on Gut-Brain Interactions, Menopause and Sarcopenia
The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (WAM) at Cleveland Clinic has awarded grants for promising research in sex-based differences in the disease.