DARPA

After lobbying efforts from lawmakers and science advisors, the new, DARPA-like biomedical research agency will be a part of the National Institutes of Health, but its director will report directly to the secretary of Health and Human Services.

The legislation, passed by the House of Representatives yesterday, will increase research agencies’ budgets by around 5 percent in 2022 and support the creation of a new health agency.

These new initiatives would tackle problems relating to health and climate.

The program, known as ARIA, will be independent and scientist-led.

Critics of an agricultural research initiative cite concerns about possible weaponization of the resulting technology, which would use infected insects to deliver genetically modified viruses to plants.

Mix of public, private, philanthropic, and academic investments will fund additional BRAIN Initiative-related projects.

The U.S. Department of Defense is solidifying its focus on the life sciences with a new division of biotechnology.  

Brain-implant technologies just got a vote of government confidence, as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency announces an investment of $70 million over five years.

An NIH working group lays out nine research areas the new federal neuroscience initiative will fund.

The NIH, FDA, and DARPA are teaming up to develop a chip to test drug toxicities as one of the first projects of the NIH's new translational research center.