Protecting the Integrity of our Biomedical Research Act of 2021

Protecting the Integrity of our Biomedical Research Act of 2021

This bill requires, as a condition of receiving extramural biomedical research funding through the Department of Health and Human Services, that researchers disclose their participation in foreign talent programs.

In general, foreign talent programs are programs in which foreign states attempt to acquire U.S. scientific research or technology through recruitment programs that target scientists, engineers, academics, researchers, and entrepreneurs of all nationalities working or educated in the United States.

Bill 117 HR 5478, also known as the Protecting the Integrity of our Biomedical Research Act of 2021, aims to address concerns regarding foreign influence in biomedical research conducted in the United States. The bill seeks to enhance transparency and accountability in the research process to safeguard the integrity of scientific findings and protect national security interests.

Key provisions of the bill include requiring researchers to disclose any foreign financial conflicts of interest, affiliations with foreign entities, and funding sources for their research projects. Additionally, the bill mandates that research institutions establish policies and procedures to monitor and report any potential violations of research integrity.

Furthermore, the bill calls for increased collaboration between federal agencies, research institutions, and the scientific community to develop best practices for identifying and addressing foreign threats to biomedical research. This includes establishing a task force to coordinate efforts to combat foreign influence and ensure the security of research data and intellectual property. Overall, the Protecting the Integrity of our Biomedical Research Act of 2021 aims to strengthen the oversight and accountability of biomedical research conducted in the United States to protect the integrity of scientific findings and safeguard national security interests.