Author: Kherlen Martin

NIH Seeking Comment on Draft Scientific Integrity Policy 

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Today, NIH is releasing the Draft Scientific Integrity Policy of the National Institutes of Health for public comment. The draft policy articulates the procedures and processes in place at NIH that help maintain rigorous scientific integrity practices. Additionally, the draft policy proposes several new functions to further enhance scientific integrity at NIH and throughout the biomedical research enterprise.  

The draft policy incorporates and is responsive to the principles and directives of the Presidential Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking, Protecting the Integrity of Government Science, and A Framework for Federal Scientific Integrity Policy and Practice.

The full draft policy can be viewed here.  Comments on the draft policy will be accepted until November 9, 2023.  Comments must be submitted through the comment form found at: https://osp.od.nih.gov/comment-form-draft-scientific-integrity-policy-for-the-national-institutes-of-health/. 

Additional context on the draft policy can be found in the latest Under the Poliscope blog at: https://osp.od.nih.gov/make-your-voice-heard-on-nihs-draft-scientific-integrity-policy/.

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Make Your Voice Heard on NIH’s Draft Scientific Integrity Policy

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There is an old story about a king who holds a contest to determine his successor.  The contest involves each child in the court getting a seed, and whoever grows the tallest plant from that seed would be the winner. When the day came to show the plants, a lone girl is embarrassed to see all the other children have colorful and tall plants, while hers is still a simple seed. The girl is shocked when the king declares her to be the winner since all the seeds were boiled and none of them could grow into a plant.

While an old story, the lessons about honesty haven’t changed.  When it comes to scientific integrity, NIH has long-standing policies and processes in place to ensure the science we fund and conduct is managed, communicated, and used in ways that preserve its accuracy and objectivity.  Importantly, these policies also help protect research results from suppression, manipulation, and inappropriate influence. 

In 2022, we revised the compendium document NIH Policies and Procedures for Promoting Scientific Integrity to meet the expectations set forth in President Biden’s Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking. The updated compendium considers emerging and cross-cutting themes that have arisen since the document’s original publication in 2012.

In addition to updating the compendium, NIH has also developed the Draft Scientific Integrity Policy of the National Institutes of Health (Draft NIH Scientific Integrity Policy) to not only satisfy the expectations of the President’s memo, but also to incorporate the recommendations contained in the National Science and Technology Council’s Protecting the Integrity of Government Science report.  The Draft NIH Scientific Integrity Policy unambiguously reiterates NIH’s commitment to scientific integrity and also aligns with the recently released Draft Scientific Integrity Policy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (more info at the HHS Scientific Integrity website).

Some of the highlights of the new Draft NIH Scientific Integrity Policy include:

  • Articulating a definition of scientific integrity that is shared across the United States Government;
  • Establishing the new positions of NIH Chief Scientist and NIH Scientific Integrity Official and defining the roles and responsibilities of these positions; and
  • Protecting against inappropriate political interference.

Since the public is an equal partner in the research NIH conducts and funds, we want to hear your thoughts on the Draft NIH Scientific Integrity Policy.  Comments will be accepted on the Draft NIH Scientific Integrity Policy until November 9, 2023.  Comments must be provided using the online form that can be found at: https://osp.od.nih.gov/comment-form-draft-scientific-integrity-policy-for-the-national-institutes-of-health/.

We believe the Draft NIH Scientific Integrity Policy clearly shows the value we place on scientific integrity.  With the feedback we receive, we can ensure that, together, the seeds of scientific integrity remain strongly rooted and thrive in the future. 

Lyric Jorgenson, PhD
Acting NIH Associate Director for Science Policy
About Lyric
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White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Seeking Input on Proposed Changes to the Policies for Oversight of Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) and the Potential Pandemic Pathogen Care and Oversight (P3CO) Policy Framework

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The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) published a Request for Information in the Federal Register concerning potential changes to the policies for oversight of Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) and the Potential Pandemic Pathogen Care and Oversight (P3CO) Policy Framework.  

Public comments are being accepted through October 16, 2023.  Input received will be considered by OSTP prior to finalization of any policy. The document and instructions for providing public comment can be found at: Request for Information: Potential Changes to the Policies for Oversight of Dual Use Research of Concern and the Potential Pandemic Pathogen Care and Oversight Policy Framework

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NIH Office of Science Policy Recruiting for Multiple Positions

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*NOTICE OF CORRECTION*

Please note that the closing date for the job announcements below was incorrectly listed in the original message.

The closing date for all announcements is September 1, 2023.  We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

Do you like a fast-paced environment where your work drives evidence-based policies to support the health of the Nation?  If so, a career in the NIH Office of Science Policy (OSP) might be the place for you.  OSP works across the biomedical research enterprise to ensure NIH policy evolves in tandem with rapidly advancing science and technology. OSP is also the primary advisor to the NIH Director and NIH leadership on new, emerging policy issues at the intersection of science and society.

Currently, OSP is recruiting for five positions across several policy divisions:

  • Scientific Data Sharing: Director, Taunton Paine
  • Clinical and Healthcare Research: Director, Adam Berger
  • Biosecurity, Biosafety, and Emerging Biotechnology: Director, Cari Young
  • Science Policy Coordination, Collaboration, and Reporting: Director, Tyrone Spady

All vacancies are open from August 28, 2023 – September 15, 2023.  Full information and how to apply can be found at:

  • NIH OD-DE-23-12091438
    Applicants without prior Federal service, Federal employees without competitive service status, or those with status.

Current and former Federal employees with competitive status, those eligible for noncompetitive consideration, and certain veterans eligible under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998 (VEOA).

Please contact OSP Chief of Staff, Kelly Fennington at fenningk@od.nih.gov, with any questions.  Also, you can follow us on Twitter: @NIH_OSP

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