Aug. 22, 2025

NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, last week released a statement declaring a unified approach to advance the agency’s mission to align Institute priorities and funding approaches. Included is a list of priorities to be addressed.

Noted priorities are training future biomedical scientists, prioritizing research that is replicable and reproducible, establishing a robust and secure real-world data platform and enhancing AI research. The statement says the agency will develop an AI strategic plan intended to enhance transparency, develop AI research replication standards, and expedite the production of AI discoveries to best serve patients.

Additionally, NIH will utilize a new structure for foreign research collaborations, following a White House Executive Order about improving oversight of federal grantmaking. The structure will consider foreign institutions receiving funds for work as independent awards linked to the parent project, which will hold all awardees to the grant terms and conditions.

This is one of the first agency-wide statements released by the Director. ACR® continues to track this announcement as NIH plans are released.

For more information or if you have questions, contact Katie Grady, ACR Government Affairs Director.

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