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Board on Life Sciences

The Board on Life Sciences is now incorporated in to the Life Sciences and Biotechnology Program Area (https://www.nationalacademies.org/units/CHPP-LSB-25-P-708)

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News and Updates

The Age of AI in the Life Sciences

Update

Our 2025 report recommends ways the United States can reap the benefits of artificial intelligence in the life sciences while minimizing risks that AI may be misused to develop harmful biological agents.

Apr 30, 2025
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New Report: Strategic Report on Research and Development in Biotechnology for Defense Innovation

Update

This report offers a strategic vision for connecting scientists and technologists to build on, leverage, and tailor advances at the intersection of AI/ML, automated experimentation, and biotechnology to drive innovation in defense-related biotechnologies.

Jan 6, 2025
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Charting a Future for Sequencing RNA and Its Modifications: Interactive Overview

Update

This digital resource highlights the key messages from the report, "Charting a Future for Sequencing RNA and Its Modifications."

Aug 26, 2024
sequencing RNA modifications
About Events Projects Publications/Resources News and Updates

Past Events

External Review of Environmental, Biosafety, and Biosecurity Considerations for Synthetic Cell Research and Development: Report Release Webinar

  • April 29, 2026
  • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (EDT)
  • Webinar
  • Past

The committee hosted a webinar introducing a new report on the biosafety, biosecurity, and environmental considerations of synthetic cell research and development. The webinar was held virtually on Ap...

External Review of Environmental, Biosafety, and Biosecurity Considerations for Synthetic Cell Research and Development: Meeting # 10

  • April 21, 2026
  • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (EDT)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

This will be a closed committee meeting. The committee will discuss the upcoming report release.

External Review of Environmental, Biosafety, and Biosecurity Considerations for Synthetic Cell Research and Development-Committee Meeting #9

  • February 25, 2026
  • 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee met to discuss assignments related to response to review. This meeting was held pver zoom and was completly closed.

External Review of Environmental, Biosafety, and Biosecurity Considerations for Synthetic Cell Research and Development - Committee Meeting #8b

  • December 16, 2025
  • 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee held a meeting to discuss topics related to continuing to draft the report. This meeting was held over zoom.

External Review of Environmental, Biosafety, and Biosecurity Considerations for Synthetic Cell Research and Development - Committee Meeting #8a

  • December 15, 2025
  • 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee held a meeting to discuss topics related to continuing to draft the report. This meeting was held over zoom.

Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Sixteenth Round: Meeting # 3

  • December 12, 2025
  • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

This meeting was closed.

Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Sixteenth Round # 2

  • December 8, 2025
  • 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The meeting is closed to the committee.

External Review of Environmental, Biosafety, and Biosecurity Considerations for Synthetic Cell Research and Development - November Subgroup Meeting 1b

  • November 21, 2025
  • 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee held part 2 of a two-part subgroup meeting to finalize content related to specific sections of the draft report.

External Review of Environmental, Biosafety, and Biosecurity Considerations for Synthetic Cell Research and Development -November Subgroup Meeting 1a

  • November 20, 2025
  • 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee held part 1 of a two-part subgroup meeting to finalize content related to specific sections of the draft report.

Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Sixteenth Round: Meeting #1

  • October 31, 2025
  • 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM (EDT)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

This meeting was entirely closed.

Board on Life Sciences Fall Board Meeting 2025: Enabling Scientific Insights in the Life Sciences and Biotechnology through AI

  • October 30, 2025
  • 12:10 PM - 4:00 PM (EDT)
  • Meeting
  • Past

The overall goal of the Fall 2025 board meeting of the Board on Life Sciences (BLS) was to understand future opportunities and needs for using AI and other computational tools for scientific discovery...

External Review of Environmental, Biosafety, and Biosecurity Considerations for Synthetic Cell Research and Development - Committee Meeting #7a

  • October 22, 2025
  • 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (EDT)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee will meet to discuss topics related to the draft report. This meeting will be held over zoom.

Mirror Image Biology: Pushing the Envelope in Designing Biological Systems - A Workshop

  • September 29 - 30, 2025
  • Workshop
  • Past

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will convene an ad hoc planning committee to plan and facilitate a workshop on mirror biology, focusing on the state of the science, trend...

External Review of Environmental, Biosafety, and Biosecurity Considerations for Synthetic Cell Research and Development - Committee Meeting #6

  • September 24 - 25, 2025
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee will meet for its third information gathering session and to discuss report organization and contents. This meeting will be held in a hybrid format for committee members and invited spea...

Biological Threats in the Age of Emerging Biotechnology – DNA Synthesis

  • September 18, 2025
  • 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (EDT)
  • Workshop
  • Past

The foundational technologies enabling DNA synthesis include solid-phase synthesis using phosphonamidite chemistry to add individual bases one at a time and using enzymes to synthesize short fragments...
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