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Biology and Life Sciences

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Commentary

On Vaccines, Trump Should Rely on Science

Jan 25, 2017

Research has proven that vaccines are extremely safe and effective. The public health implications of questioning this are serious. America should take every opportunity to protect kids by vaccinating them against every vaccine-preventable disease.
Commentary

Europe's Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance

Nov 3, 2016

The EC's AMR Action Plan included measures to ensure antimicrobials are used more appropriately in both humans and animals and measures to stimulate R&D of new antibiotics. One area that was not sufficiently covered was the environment.

Explore Biology and Life Sciences

Report

Forensic Familial and Moderate Stringency DNA Searches: Policies and Practices in the United States, England, and Wales

Forensic DNA databases help solve crimes. When an exact DNA match is not found, familial DNA and moderate stringency search may provide investigative leads. Evidence-based practices can guide policymakers on the use and effectiveness of this method.

Aug 12, 2019
Tool

Forensic DNA Surveillance Tool

This tool shows criminal justice policymakers how state policies affect the size and racial composition of forensic DNA databases. Users can view current state policies or change inputs and assumptions to see how database composition is impacted.

Aug 12, 2019
Report

Profile of Institutional Review Board Characteristics Prior to the 2019 Implementation of the Revised Common Rule

This report details the results of a survey of institutional research boards (IRBs) to obtain baseline information on their demographics and their attitudes about their IRBs and the likely effects of proposed changes to the Revised Common Rule.

Jul 31, 2019
Report

Report

Design and development of an evaluation framework for the NHMRC: Review of international practice, overview of NHMRC's data and grant management systems, and an evaluation framework and metrics

The aim of this study is to help NHMRC think about ways to assess and measure the impact of the changes to their restructured grant program in terms of burden, creativity and innovation, and equality of opportunity across career stages.

Jun 17, 2019
Research Brief

Research Brief

Oversight of emerging science and technology: Lessons from history to guide future developments

To help inform decisions about emerging science and technology oversight in the future, RAND Europe studied ten examples of oversight spanning different countries, time periods, and science and technology areas, and identified eight key lessons.

Jun 14, 2019
Report

Report

Development of a Knowledge Readiness Level Framework for Medical Research

A new framework for assessing the maturity of knowledge products (outputs from health science research) assigns each product to a knowledge readiness level, to help the U.S. Army make better decisions about its health science research portfolio.

Apr 4, 2019
Report

Assessing the Need for and Uses of Sequences of Interest Databases: A Report on the Proceedings of a Two-Day Workshop

This report details the proceedings of a Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center workshop in which experts considered how a genetic database of "sequences of interest" could best support stakeholders to improve biotechnology research efforts.

Mar 21, 2019
Report

Report

Oversight of emerging science and technology: Learning from past and present efforts around the world

To help inform decisions about emerging science and technology oversight in the future, RAND Europe studied ten examples of oversight spanning different countries, time periods, and science and technology areas, and identified eight key lessons.

Mar 20, 2019
Report

Report

Supporting the Development of a Vision and Strategic Plan for Zhejiang University's Academic Medical Center (为浙江大学学术型医学中心制定愿景与战略规划): Chinese Translation (simplified characters)

This is a Chinese translation of a report that identifies and assesses potential models of organization to help achieve the goals of Zhejiang University's academic medical center.

Mar 1, 2019
Commentary

Biology, in the Language of the People

As technology and the ability to gather ever-growing amounts of data move further into the realms of biology and human performance, communication and transparency become increasingly important. Experts should consider whether they are using the words, examples, and models that connect with a broad audience most effectively.

Feb 21, 2019
Report

Report

Patient and public involvement in research: Enabling meaningful contributions

This report looks at how to effectively involve patients and the public in health research.

Feb 14, 2019
Commentary

Ethics of Germline Editing Must Keep Up with Technology

Mainstream interest in genome editing is now surging. If this research is to go forward, the science should be well understood by those conducting the research. Best practices and the highest scientific standards should be employed to limit risks and prevent unintended consequences.

Jan 10, 2019
Report

Supporting the Development of a Vision and Strategic Plan for Zhejiang University's Academic Medical Center

This report identifies and assesses potential models of organization to help achieve the goals of Zhejiang University's academic medical center.

Jan 3, 2019
Journal Article

Practical Guidance for Involving Stakeholders in Health Research

Stakeholder engagement is increasingly common in health research. But who should be involved, and in what way? And what difference will it make? Researchers can use frameworks to lay out a path for projects that engage multiple stakeholders.

Dec 27, 2018
Report

Report

Evidence synthesis on the conditions needed to translate research and drive innovation

A number of conditions, and their interaction, are essential to the translation and innovation process across sectors. Policy interventions can support innovation but evidence of their effectiveness is currently limited.

Dec 14, 2018
Report

Report

Evidence synthesis on measuring the distribution of benefits of research and innovation

There are numerous benefits from R&I that are not well captured by current economic approaches. Investing in evaluation and methodological development could help develop a more holistic perspective on the benefits of R&I in the UK.

Dec 14, 2018
Report

Report

Enabling NHS staff to contribute to research: Reflecting on current practice and informing future opportunities

This report considers how NHS staff can effectively contribute to health research.

Dec 11, 2018
Report

Report

Impact of ammonia emissions from agriculture on biodiversity: An evidence synthesis

Ammonia emissions in the UK have been rising since 2013, with the main source being agriculture. The impacts on biodiversity are significant and together with the costs to human health could be equivalent to over £700m per year in the UK by 2020.

Sep 16, 2018
Report

Best Practices for Participant and Stakeholder Engagement in the All of Us Research Program

RAND researchers identified best practices for engaging participants in the All of Us Research Program, which collects long-term health data from 1 million U.S. adults. Engagement involves awareness, enrollment, and retention of program participants.

Aug 17, 2018
Report

Report

What do we know about grant peer review in the health sciences? An updated review of the literature and six case studies

In 2009, RAND Europe conducted a literature review to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of peer review for grant funding. This report updates that review and adds case studies exploring peer review practice at six international funders.

Jun 7, 2018

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RAND Topic:
Biology and Life Sciences

Topic Synonyms:
Human Biology;
Social Biology

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