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One of my key priorities as ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Director is to foster a culture in which scientists are incentivized to engage in open, academic discourse in pursuit of ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø’s mission to seek fundamental knowledge and improve the health of all Americans. Open debate is the cornerstone of scientific progress as interrogating evidence and challenging the status quo are essential for ensuring scientific rigor and meaningful results.

Starting today, ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø will undertake a comprehensive review of all policies and practices within its Intramural Research Program (IRP) to establish academic freedom as the rule and not the exception. With principles of academic freedom in place, ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø scientists can be certain they are afforded the ability to engage in open, academic discourse as part of their official duties and in their personal capacities without risk of official interference, professional disadvantage or workplace retaliation.

ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø policies have always supported the public dissemination of research. However, academic freedom matters most in the edge cases where scientists are pursuing evidence that others find inconvenient or objectionable. By prioritizing academic freedom across the agency, we can work to restore public trust in ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø’s ability to carry out its mission.

Jay Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, National Institutes of Health