The National Academies’ Board on Life Sciences Dr. Frances Sharples Director National Research Council National Research Council

BLS Mission S erve as the National Academies' focal point for a wide range of technical and policy topics in the life sciences S erve as the National Academies' focal point for a wide range of technical and policy topics in the life sciences Organize and oversee studies that provide advice to government and the scientific community on the biological sciences and their impact on society Organize and oversee studies that provide advice to government and the scientific community on the biological sciences and their impact on society Maintain expertise in and understanding of the full spectrum of life science disciplines to be able to deal with issues of both basic science (e.g., knowledge gaps, research priorities, needed investments) and the higher level policy concerns that flow from or build on the basic science Maintain expertise in and understanding of the full spectrum of life science disciplines to be able to deal with issues of both basic science (e.g., knowledge gaps, research priorities, needed investments) and the higher level policy concerns that flow from or build on the basic science

BLS REPORTS FALL INTO A NUMBER OF GENERAL CATEGORIES Biological and Biomedical Research Biological and Biomedical Research Genomics Genomics Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Biological Forensics Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Biological Forensics Ecology, Evolution, Biodiversity, Environmental Research Ecology, Evolution, Biodiversity, Environmental Research Biology Education and Workforce Biology Education and Workforce

Many of Our Reports on Biomedical Research Have Had Substantive Impacts  Enhancing the Vitality of the National Institutes of Health: Organizational Change to Meet New Challenges (2003)  Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research (2005)  Bridges to Independence: Fostering the Independence of New Investigators in Biomedical Research (2005)  A New Biology for the 21st Century (2009)  Toward Precision Medicine: Building a Knowledge Network for Biomedical Research and a New Taxonomy of Disease (2011)

Building a Biomedical Knowledge Network The Board on Life Sciences and the Board on Research Data and Information (BRDI) will undertake a consensus study on Building a Biomedicine Knowledge Network. The study would be done pursuant to the following task statement: 1. Define information commons, knowledge network, and other key related terms as used in biomedical and other scientific research. Provide different examples in the public and private sectors and in partnerships. When and where have these approaches been useful in biomedicine or in other areas of research? 2. Identify and consider the factors in determining the benefits and drawbacks of each of the types of approaches identified in #1, above, including: the timescales to achieving core functionalities, the scale and scope of the approaches, the institutional models, the legal mechanisms, the overall sustainability of the approaches, and an assessment of the ability to provide optimal benefits rapidly to patients, while respecting privacy and proprietary concerns. 3. Based on the foregoing tasks, develop consensus conclusions and recommendations for approaches aimed at building biomedical information commons and knowledge network. The report would be published 18 months from receipt of funding for the study.

Technologies for Identifying Biological Species for the Enforcement of US Laws and Regulations An ad hoc committee of experts appointed by the National Research Council (NRC) will conduct the proposed study according the following Statement of Task (SOT): Investigate new scientific methods and technologies based on DNA identification of animals and plants that would increase accuracy, reduce mislabeling, and simplify identification processes and procedures; Develop possible options for DNA identification and other technologies that would reduce the time for accurate identification to reach scientific and enforcement decisions; Determine the current legal jurisdictions of appropriate federal agencies and investigate the potential for using DNA identification technologies to achieve greater compliance with applicable U.S. laws and regulations; and Evaluate the economics of current identification methods. Investigate the potential for using DNA identification technologies to reduce costs of regulatory enforcement and of damages from introduced diseases, invasive pests, and other socioeconomic impacts. The committee will produce a consensus report with findings and possible recommendations, taking into consideration the various stakeholder groups interested in the benefits listed above.

More information on BLS can be found on its website