Research America

Advocacy programs:we annually host several partner programs each year, highlighting our convening power and ability to identify and focus attention on timely research and development policy related topics. In 2024 the national health research forum hosted thought-provoking discussions around exploring innovations in health systems research, strengthening the stem workforce, accelerating innovation through clinical trials, mental health, building trust, artificial intelligence (ai) and drug development, and more! This event featured 40 speakers, including 11 high-ranking government officials. Following the 2024 elections, we hosted our bi-annual post-election briefing for an in-the-moment discussion about the 2024 election outcomes and implications on research and development with the 119th congress.

Bolstering our nation's r&d capacity:the science and technology action committee (stac), an initiative that brings together nonprofit, academic, foundation, and corporate leaders, with research!america in a leading role, aims to champion a bolder approach to bolstering our nation's r&d capacity. Building on momentum generated from the december 2023 release of stac's state of science in america report, we created a task force comprised of nearly 70 influential leaders across science, academia, industry, philanthropy, and policy. This task force's mission was to develop a vision for american science and technology to equip policymakers in washington, d.c., with a clear vision for the future of science and technology, along with actionable policy recommendations.

Global health r&d advocacy:in 2024, research!america expanded its global health r&d advocacy program, completing the third year of a multi-year grant project. The grant was extended for an additional three years. The goal of the project is to increase united states government non-official development assistance (oda) funding for global health research & development, with particular emphasis on advancing innovative cross-sector partnerships and other efficiency-creating r&d strategies, including platform technologies and global clinical trial networks.

Science outreach and civic engagement:the civic engagement microgrant program in 2024 was our 7th year empowering early-career science civic engagement through microgrants. The program was highly competitive with 26 microgrants funded from across the country. Research!america also released recommendations about how to include public engagement skills in stemm graduate training based on input from a group of university and foundation leaders. We look forward to continuing to build on these recommendations.

Other programs