Rapid_expert_consultation
Diagnostics are the first line of defense to infectious disease outbreaks. The rapid spread of Influenza A (H5N1) or "Bird Flu" into U.S. dairy cattle, poultry, and humans underscores the urgent need for stronger diagnostic readiness. While sustained human-to-human transmission has not yet occurred with H5N1, the risk is growing. Currently there are knowledge gaps around early case identification measures, clinical management, and coordinated public health efforts.
In response, the National Academies produced a rapid expert consultation providing a strategic and actionable analysis for strengthening domestic diagnostic capacity and infrastructure. This is the first publication of the institution's new Rapid Response to Emerging Science, Engineering, and Medicine Challenges initiative, which provides a formal platform for proactively building sustainable, crosscutting rapid response capabilities.
36 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-60052-9
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/29273
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Diagnostic Tools, Gaps, and Collaborative Pathways in Human H5N1 Detection: Rapid Expert Consultation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Workshop_in_brief
Empathy and compassion shape how people build relationships, care for one another, and respond to suffering. Yet, the biological mechanisms that underlie these traits and their influence on brain health are not fully understood.
The National Academies Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders, in collaboration with the Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences, convened a two-day virtual workshop in May 2025 to explore the underlying neurobiology of empathy and compassion; consider the influence of social interactions, psychological states, and the environment; and explore how this knowledge may be harnessed to treat brain disorders and foster human well-being. This Proceedings of a Workshop-in Brief outlines presentations and discussions that occurred during the workshop, including perspectives from individuals with lived experience, neuroscientists, and health care professionals, including psychologists.
15 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-60034-0
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/29238
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Unraveling the Neurobiology of Empathy and Compassion: Implications for Treatments for Brain Disorders and Human Well-Being: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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The scientific community has been studying the question of how human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases are affecting the climate for well over a century. Much is known today, drawing on decades of direct observations of the Earth system and detailed research. This report summarizes the latest evidence on whether greenhouse gas emissions threaten public health and welfare in the United States.
The impetus for this report was a notice of proposed rulemaking issued in August 2025 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicating its intention to rescind the 2009 Finding of Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases Under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act. Recognizing that significantly more evidence is available today, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine launched this study to review newly available scientific evidence on the topics included in a Technical Support Document that EPA prepared to inform its decision-making on the finding.
The report’s authoring committee found that EPA’s 2009 finding that human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases adversely affect human health and welfare was accurate, has stood the test of time, and is now reinforced by even stronger evidence. Today, many of EPA’s conclusions are further supported by longer observational records and multiple new lines of evidence. Moreover, research has uncovered additional risks that were not apparent in 2009.
126 pages
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8.5 x 11
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-99603-1
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-60029-4
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/29239
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Effects of Human-Caused Greenhouse Gas Emissions on U.S. Climate, Health, and Welfare. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Workshop
Rising rates of stress, anxiety, and depression highlight the need to understand how the brain builds resilience across life stages. The National Academies' Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders, in collaboration with the Forum on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders, hosted a workshop in March 2025 to explore the neurobiological mechanisms of stress; critical periods for resilience development; and strategies to apply these insights in clinical, public health, and community-based approaches. This Proceedings of a Workshop highlights presentations and discussions that occurred at the workshop.
114 pages
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6 x 9
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-59922-9
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-59920-2
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/29243
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Applying Neurobiological Insights on Stress to Foster Resilience Across Life Stages: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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For over 60 years, public health newborn screening programs have served families in the United States by identifying babies at risk of serious but treatable conditions and connecting them to clinical care. Today, more than 98% of infants receive dried blood spot screening, which entails collecting a few drops of blood during the first days of life, applying them to a paper card, and sending the card to a lab to be tested for markers of specific health conditions like congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell disease. The public health impacts of newborn screening are vast, with over 7,000 infants identified annually for timely interventions. Despite these achievements, challenges in implementing newborn screening programs persist.
In response to a congressional request, the Office on Women's Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services asked the National Academies to convene an ad hoc committee of subject matter experts to examine the current landscape of newborn screening in the United States, recommend options to strengthen this public health service, and establish a vision for the future. Supplementary funding was provided by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to enable additional public engagement. The resulting report provides actionable recommendations for navigating the path ahead while preserving and enhancing what is already considered a valuable and effective public health achievement.
278 pages
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6 x 9
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-99216-8
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-99217-6
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/29102
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Newborn Screening in the United States: A Vision for Sustaining and Advancing Excellence. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Workshop
Current policies on dual-use research of concern (DURC) and pathogens with enhanced pandemic potential (PEPP) typically focus on physical laboratory work. In light of the fast-evolving advances in artificial intelligence and computational modeling, these frameworks do not effectively inform risk and benefit evaluation and assessment related to the information and resources generated from computational studies.
To address these concerns, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop sponsored by the National Science Foundation on April 3-4, 2025, to explore the benefits and biosecurity risks of communicating and publishing biological research using in silico modeling and computational approaches. The workshop brought together multi-sectoral experts to discuss current policies and safeguards related to DURC and PEPP, as well as lessons learned, and considered the challenges and opportunities for promoting the benefits of computational and AI-driven approaches in biology while mitigating potential biosecurity risks. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussion of the workshop, including suggestions from participants on tiered oversight approaches, early-stage risk evaluations and assessment, and incentivizing norms through training and publication standards.
65 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-99433-0
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/29174
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Disseminating In Silico and Computational Biological Research: Navigating Benefits and Risks: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Around 10-20% of people who contract Lyme disease, the most common tickborne disease in the U.S., develop persistent, often debilitating symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction. Lyme infection-associated chronic illnesses (IACI) share symptoms common to other IACI such as Long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Despite the chronic impact on the quality of life for many people, there are currently no validated interventions to treat Lyme IACI.
In response to this unmet need, the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation asked the National Academies to convene a committee of experts to assess the evidence for disease mechanisms, diagnoses, and treatments of Lyme IACI and illuminate a pathway for the development of new treatments. The resulting report, Charting a Path Toward New Treatments for Lyme Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses, makes recommendations around developing treatments that improve function and quality of life based on currently available evidence, while continuing research to identify root causes and mechanisms of the disease.
252 pages
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6 x 9
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-73098-8
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73099-6
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/28578
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Charting a Path Toward New Treatments for Lyme Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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When someone experiences the loss of a limb or severe facial disfigurement, one of their options may be vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA), which transfers a graft containing multiple tissues transferred as a functional unit. Using VCA to restore the functionality and aesthetics of a lost upper limb or disfigured face is a profound and life-altering gift; however, the process and the decision to accept (or donate) a VCA graft is complex and deeply emotional. In addition to psychosocial considerations, a VCA recipient must commit to undergoing years of rigorous rehabilitation, have a robust support system in place, and accept and understand the risks of being on immunosuppressive drugs for the rest of their life. Despite VCA advances over the last 25 years, challenges remain, and the small number of recipients of face or hand transplants makes it difficult to generalize outcomes.
To address these challenges, the Department of Defense Reconstructive Transplant Research Program tasked a committee of the National Academies with developing principles and a framework for the standardization, assessment, and validation of protocols and standard operating procedures for face and hand transplantation. The resulting report offers guidance for the newly established Clinical Organization Network for Standardization of Reconstructive Transplantation (CONSORT), but it also includes specific recommendations to enable the larger VCA community to mature, advance, and thrive into the future.
388 pages
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6 x 9
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-73108-9
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73109-7
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/28580
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Advancing Face and Hand Transplantation: Principles and Framework for Developing Standardized Protocols. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists, originally developed for type 2 diabetes patients and popularized by their ability to rapidly reduce body weight in patients with obesity, have recently received a lot of national attention. Repurposing GLP-1R agonists to treat some central nervous disorders is promising, but comparatively understudied. At a September 2024 workshop, the National Academies Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders reviewed the current knowledge and research gaps about the mechanisms of action of GLP-1R agonists in the brain, and the evidence of their clinical efficacy for eating disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, substance use disorders, and pain.
118 pages
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6 x 9
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-73505-X
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73506-8
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/29061
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Examining Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor (GLP-1R) Agonists for Central Nervous System Disorders: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Historical exclusion of women from basic, translational, and clinical research has led to an inadequate understanding of sex-based biological differences on health and disease burden and lack of therapies for women's health. In October 2024, the National Academies Forum on Regenerative Medicine and Forum on Temporomandibular Disorders hosted a public workshop to consider gaps within regenerative medicine research related to conditions that are female-specific and/or are more common in or differently impact women; explore emerging and potential regenerative medicine therapies and technologies for these conditions; and examine women's representation within the regenerative medicine workforce.
14 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-09899-8
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/29088
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. The Intersection of Regenerative Medicine and Women's Health: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Despite traumatic brain injury (TBI) being a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S., substantial unmet needs persist in TBI prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. The National Academies Forum on Traumatic Brain Injury hosted a public workshop in April 2024 to explore examples of recent research, development, and implementation of TBI diagnostic biomarkers, injury prevention technologies, clinical decision tools, and treatment approaches. Discussions explored examples of needs, opportunities, and challenges influencing innovation.
148 pages
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6 x 9
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-72991-2
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-72992-0
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/28258
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Examples of Technical Innovation for Traumatic Brain Injury Prevention, Diagnosis, and Care: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Clinical practice guidelines are condition- or disease-specific recommendations for the appropriate health care management of patients. Because guidelines can differ between different organizations, the National Academies Roundtable on Genomics and Precision Health and National Cancer Policy Forum hosted a public workshop in October 2024 to explore how clinical guidelines can impact the adoption and coverage of genomic testing in routine medical care.
14 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73082-1
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/28572
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Exploring Clinical Guidelines for the Adoption of Genomic Testing: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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When disaster strikes, critical infrastructure failures can follow - from loss of power and water to failures of information technology infrastructure and systems. Threats to the nation's healthcare and public health (HPH) critical infrastructure are highly complex and rapidly evolving, creating potentially new or increased national health security risks and disruptions, challenging assumptions about the current and future resilience of HPH critical infrastructure design and operations, and altering the implications for interdependent sectors and workforce. In December 2024, the National Academies Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies hosted a public workshop to consider strategies, policies, and innovative actions to improve the resilience of HPH critical infrastructure concerning impacts from disasters and other emergencies.
15 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73573-4
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/29081
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Enhancing the Resilience of Health Care and Public Health Critical Infrastructure: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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The Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies convenes public- and private-sector leaders to improve the nation's preparedness for, response to, and recovery from disasters, public health emergencies, and emerging threats. The forum fosters in-depth policy discussion and collaboration to identify barriers and explore solutions to ensure and sustain national security, promote recovery, and enhance resilience. This publication describes the activities of the forum during 2024.
20 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-09906-4
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/29090
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies: 2024 Annual Report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD), a collection of neurodegenerative conditions, take a heavy physical, emotional, and financial toll on individuals, families, and communities. Developing effective strategies for preventing and treating these conditions, which impact millions of people in the United States, is one of the most pressing needs in biomedical research today. The National Institutes of Health has invested billions of dollars in this research, which has led to numerous scientific advances over the last decade. However, the pace of progress has not kept up with the growing needs of people living with AD/ADRD and those at risk.
Consequently, the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke asked the National Academies to convene an expert committee to examine and assess the current state of biomedical research and recommend research priorities to advance the prevention and treatment of AD/ADRD. Preventing and Treating Dementia outlines these research priorities and recommends strategies to overcome barriers to progress.
488 pages
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6 x 9
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-73151-8
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73152-6
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/28588
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Preventing and Treating Dementia: Research Priorities to Accelerate Progress. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Despite decades of ongoing efforts to improve racial and ethnic diversity in clinical trials, many gaps remain in achieving demographic representation in clinical studies. In May 2024, the National Academies Forum on Drug Discovery, Development, and Translation, in collaboration with the National Cancer Policy Forum, hosted a public workshop to explore system-level changes and initiatives across organizations and sectors to improve representation, data collection, and reporting in clinical trials and progress tracking in the United States.
124 pages
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6 x 9
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-73145-3
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73146-1
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/28587
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Toward a Framework to Improve Diversity and Inclusion in Clinical Trials: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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In 2023, the National Academies convened an expert committee to assess the current use of racial and ethnic categories in biomedical research, review existing guidance for researchers, and provide new guidance for future use. The resulting 2025 report, Rethinking Race and Ethnicity in Biomedical Research, outlines nine actionable recommendations and associated resources for advancing the responsible use of race and ethnicity.
The recommendations of Rethinking Race and Ethnicity in Biomedical Research address how to: decide whether to use race and ethnicity in different research contexts; characterize and disclose limitations of datasets that include racial and ethnic information; identify factors to investigate instead of or alongside race and ethnicity; include overlooked populations in analysis; and support sustained community engagement.
270 pages
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7 x 10
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-72463-5
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-72464-3
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27913
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Rethinking Race and Ethnicity in Biomedical Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Workshop_in_brief
Avian Influenza A (H5) viruses have circulated globally for decades among migratory bird populations. The recent emergence of Avian Influenza A (H5N1) in U.S. dairy cattle has led to challenges in managing and controlling the spread of H5 viruses between livestock, wildlife, and companion animals, as well as to humans from infected animals. The National Academies hosted a public workshop in October 2024 to explore potential research priorities that could inform readiness and response to the outbreak. Discussions followed an interdisciplinary One Health approach, bringing together experts from across human, veterinary, plant, and environmental health disciplines, and builds on published federal research priorities for H5N1 to include perspectives beyond basic translational clinical sciences, to social sciences, veterinary health, agricultural economics, and occupational health, among others.
14 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73112-7
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/28581
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Potential Research Priorities to Inform U.S. Readiness and Response to Avian Influenza A (H5N1): Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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