Advisory Council Minutes, September 11, 2025

The National Advisory General Medical Sciences (NAGMS) Council convened remotely for its 189th meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 11, 2025.

Jon R. Lorsch, Ph.D., director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), presided as meeting chair. After an open session from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the closed session of September 2025 council convened from 12:30 p.m. to 2:40 p.m.

Council Members Attending Remotely

Natalie G. Ahn, Ph.D.
Eric Alani, Ph.D.
Terri Goss Kinzy, Ph.D.
David H. Mathews, M.D., Ph.D.
Lesilee Rose, Ph.D.
Christopher W. Seymour, M.D., M.Sc.
Jeffrey Sun, Ph.D.
Leyte Winfield, Ph.D.

Council roster (available from NIGMS)

Ad Hoc Council Participants Attending Remotely

José R. Rodríguez-Medina, Ph.D. 
Professor and Chair
Department of Biochemistry
PI, Puerto Rico INBRE Program
Medical Sciences Campus
University of Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-5067

Kelly L. Drew, Ph.D. 
Professor and Director
Transformative Research in Metabolism
Institute of Arctic Biology
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Puerto Rico
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7000

Kevin Raney Ph.D. 
Professor and Chair
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little Rock, AR 72205

Early Career Investigator Ad Hoc Council Participants Attending Remotely

Whitney L. Stoppel, Ph.D.
Dr. and Mrs. Frederick C. Edie Term Associate Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611

Allison Owen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Physical Therapy
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40536-0200

Members of the Public Attending Remotely

Not tracked because meeting was available via unrestricted NIH Videocast.

OPEN SESSION OF THE MEETING

I. Call to Order and Opening Remarks

Dr. Lorsch welcomed Council members and guests. Council members approved the minutes from the May 22, 2025, meeting.

II. Future Meeting Dates

Council confirmed the following dates for future meetings:

February 5, 2026 (Virtual Meeting)
May 21, 2026 (In-Person Meeting)
September 10, 2026 (Virtual Meeting)

III. Review of Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest Procedures

Dr. Lorsch explained policies and procedures regarding confidentiality and avoidance of conflict-of-interest situations to Council members.

IV. NIGMS Director’s Report (NIH Videocast @ 11:15)

PDF Icon. Jon Lorsch Council Presentation Slides
 

Dr. Lorsch NIGMS staff transitions.

Dr. Lorsch highlighted the following flagship NIGMS programs and endeavors:

Dr. Lorsch highlighted NIH-wide policy updates and priorities including:

  • Emphasis on human-based research approaches and technologies in funding opportunities. While animal models may still be used when scientifically justified, all funding opportunities must support human-based approaches.
  • Transition from foreign subawards to linked direct grants for better transparency (NOT-OD-25-104 and NOT-OD-25-130).
  • A focus on reducing administrative burden, simplifying Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs), improving data sharing policies, identifying unnecessary burdens and promoting research integrity. 

V. DISCUSSION (NIH Videocast @ 47:00)

Council members discussed the assessment of foreign collaborations that do not involve a financial component.

VI. Response to the Evaluation of the Mature Synchrotron Resources (MSR) Program NIH Videocast @ 51:00)

Dorothy Beckett, Ph.D.

At the May 22, 2025 NAGMS Council meeting, the Mature Synchrotron Resources (MSR) Program Evaluation working group presented their findings and recommendations. Dr. Beckett presented NIGMS’ response to the evaluation including:

  • Encouraging, as applicable, application sharing and transfer standardization of user interfaces and data retention policies, and short-term data storage.
  • Encouraging information exchange among MSR PIs via a biannual meeting to share best practices.
  • Encouraging the resources to develop additional common denominator user training materials. MSRs currently sponsor training workshops.
  • Providing progress reporting templates to the MSR PIs.
  • Continuing to introduce students to synchrotron science by requiring MSRs to perform student outreach and encouraging MSRs to continue to offer student internships.
  • Continuing to use a multi-faceted approach for MSR funding decisions that includes NIGMS priorities, budgetary constraints, MSR use and the continuing evolution of structural and cellular biology technologies.

The NAGMS Council accepted the response to the evaluation.

VII. Concept Clearance: Mature Synchrotron Resources (MSR) Program NIH Videocast @ 1:13:00)

The Mature Synchrotron Resources (MSR) Program supports mature technologies at synchrotron facilities that provide users access to x-ray beamlines for structural and cellular biology research. 

NIGMS received Council approval for the concept.

VIII. Concept Clearance: Centers of Biomedical Excellence (COBRE) Program NIH Videocast @ 1:14:00)

The Centers of Biomedical Excellence (COBRE) Program enables institutions in IDeA states to increase their biomedical research capacity in broad scientific areas of strategic importance to the organization. Two COBRE concepts are proposed. 

COBRE – D (Develop capacity): Designed to support long-term capacity building through recruitment of investigators, development of research infrastructure, mentoring of early-career researchers, and enhancement of research administration; joint applications from multiple organizations allowable. Successful applicants may transition to the COBRE-E track.

COBRE - E/S: Offers two tracks:

  • COBRE E track (Expand capacity): Focuses on expanding institutional research capacity through faculty recruitment, research project development, mentoring, and facility expansion. Current COBRE Phase 1 grantees may be eligible to transition into this track.
  • COBRE S track (Sustain capacity): Aims to sustain existing infrastructure by supporting continued faculty growth and consolidation of research cores. Eligible applicants include current COBRE Phase 2 and future COBRE-E grantees.

Council members also discussed considerations related to curriculum development, hiring flexibility, budgeting, scientific expertise, and partnership opportunities. 

NIGMS received Council approval for the concept.

IX. Concept Clearance: Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) for Early Stage Investigators (ESIs) NIH Videocast @ 1:30:00)

The Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) for Early Stage Investigators (ESIs) program supports research in an investigator’s laboratory that falls within the mission of NIGMS and increases the efficiency of NIGMS funding by providing investigators with greater stability and flexibility. 

NIGMS received Council approval for the concept.

X. Concept Clearance: Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) Program NIH Videocast @ 1:33:00)

The Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) Program supports statewide networks of higher education and research institutions in IDeA-eligible states to build biomedical research capacity.

NIGMS received Council approval for the concept.

XI. Concept Clearance: Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Clinical & Translational Research (CTR) Program NIH Videocast @ 1:35:50)

The Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Clinical & Translational Research (CTR) Program supports clinical and translational research through programs that develop research workforce and infrastructure, enhance the ability of investigators and institutions to develop competitive clinical research programs and strengthen collaborative research that targets health conditions prevalent in IDeA states.

Two CTR tracks are proposed to support this infrastructure.

NIGMS received Council approval for the concept.

XII. Discussion

Council discussed forward funding as an NIH model, the continuation of R16 activity code awards, and the success of MIRA awards in IDeA states.

CLOSED SESSION OF THE MEETING

This portion of the meeting was closed to the public in accordance with the determination that it was concerned with matters exempt from mandatory disclosure under sections 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C., and section 1009(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. §§ 1001-1014).

Members exited the meeting during the discussion and voting process on applications from their own institutions or other applications that presented a potential conflict of interest, real or apparent. Members signed a statement to this effect at the beginning of the meeting.

REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS

NIGMS considered 1,597 research and training applications requesting $604,734,301 in total costs. The Council recommended 1,597applications with a total cost of $604,734,301.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 2:40 p.m. on September 11, 2025.

CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that, to my knowledge, the foregoing minutes are accurate and complete.

Erica Brown, Ph.D.
Chair
National Advisory General
Medical Sciences Council

Ariel Zane, Ph.D.
Executive Secretary
National Advisory General
Medical Sciences Council
 

This page last updated on 12/12/2025 3:46 PM