NASEM Health and Medicine (HMD) News

Keep reading to learn about our impact, discover our latest publications and upcoming events, scan news from around the National Academies, and more.

Spotlight on HMD

“What to eat to protect your aging muscles” The Washington Post referenced our 2005 report, Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids, in an article providing high level tips, such as bumping up protein intake, for combating age-related muscle loss. Read it here.

“Comprehensive look at U.S. children’s health finds ‘steady decline’” Science referenced our 2024 report, Launching Lifelong Health by Improving Health Care for Children, Youth, and Families, in an article exploring new data showing that from 2007 to 2023, children in the U.S. were 80% more likely to die from ages 1 to 19 than their peers in other high-income countries. Read it here.

“What Long COVID Can Teach Psychiatry—and Its Critics” Psychiatric Times referenced our 2024 report, A Long COVID Definition: A Chronic, Systemic Disease State with Profound Consequences, in an article exploring the challenges of recognizing and diagnosing conditions with complex clinical presentations based primarily on reported symptoms and life experiences. Read it here.

“Stanford Law’s Lisa Ouellette Helps Shape New Report on Drug Development Reform” Stanford Lawyer Magazine covered our 2025 report, Aligning Investments in Therapeutic Development with Therapeutic Need: Closing the Gap, acknowledging the contributions of Stanford Law School Professor Lisa Larrimore Ouellette, a leading voice on intellectual property and medical innovation policy, and Stanford Health Policy Professor Joshua Salomon, a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. Read the article here.

New HMD Workshop Offers CPEUs for Select Titles Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTRs) have an opportunity to earn Continuing Professional Educational Units (CPEUs) for participating in an upcoming National Academies workshop addressing prepregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain. The two-day virtual event, September 4-5, will examine new evidence on gestational weight gain as well as the risk of adverse health conditions for both mother and child, focusing on women with perinatal obesity and underweight women. Learn more here.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Aligning Investments in Therapeutic Development with Therapeutic Need: Closing the Gap
Consensus Study Report

July 14, 2025
Access the report and related materials

Evaluation of Manhattan Project Records for Veteran Health and Exposure Assessments
Consensus Study Report

July 14, 2025
Access the report and related materials

Exploring the Treatment and Management of Chronic Pain and Implications for Disability Determinations
Proceedings of a Workshop

July 24, 2025
Access the proceedings

Around the National Academies

2026 Biotechnology Regulatory Fellowship Applications Now Open

Facilitated by the National Academies’ Committee on Science, Technology, and Law, these six-month, full-time, hands-on professional development fellowships engage early career professionals to develop new frameworks needed to meet future regulatory challenges presented by novel biotechnology products. Apply here by August 31, 2025.

Crossroads in Agriculture: Bridging Science, Policy, and Practice

The National Academies hosted a half-day symposium on Capitol Hill where leading scientists, agriculture industry experts, and congressional staffers gathered to explore the future of American agriculture. Participants discussed key issues around water resources, soil health, nutrient use efficiency, rural resilience, and emerging bioeconomy opportunities. Learn more here.

A Tour of America’s Home for Science Offers Many Rich Discoveries

The Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences office now offers free tours of the National Academy of Sciences building on Washington, D.C.’s National Mall. The tour showcases the science, scientists, and luminaries who have passed through the building over the past 100 years, as well as a treasure trove of architecture and art surprises. Learn more here.

Applications Now Open for New Voices Program 2026-2028 Cohort

The New Voices program brings together exceptional U.S.-based scientists, engineers, and medical professionals committed to service, collaboration, and public engagement. The group will address pressing national and global challenges while expanding cross-disciplinary perspectives engaged in the National Academies’ advisory work. Apply by September 3, 2025.

Upcoming Workshop Addresses Ventilation for Health and Productivity

On September 17, the National Academies’ Health in Buildings Roundtable will host a workshop to explore key actions for improving indoor air quality. Leaders in public health, HVAC and building design practices, and facilities management will participate in interactive discussions on the importance of outside air, CO2 sensors, fault management, and economizer operation. Register for the workshop here.

Upcoming Events

Health and Safety Impacts of Aircraft Cabin Temperatures – Meeting 2 Public Session August 21, 2025 Strategies for Integrating AI into State and Local Government Decision Making Webinar August 21, 2025 Clinical Preventive Services for Addressing Cardiovascular Disease Risk to Reduce Pregnancy-related Deaths Among Women: Meeting 4, Part 3 August 27-28, 2025 Session I: Addressing Training Site and Slot Shortages Across the Health Professions: A Workshop August 28, 2025