|
View as Webpage
In Chinese mythology, the snake—or 蛇 (shé) in Mandarin Chinese—is a complex creature that symbolizes wisdom, intuition, and introspection. As snakes grow, they shed their skin, which symbolizes renewal and transformation, and their agile movements represent adaptability and the ability to deftly respond to the world around them. These characteristics have always been critical resources for the scientific enterprise as it responds to emerging and evolving health needs, priorities, and challenges—the snake is also part of one of the most common symbols of medicine. As we enter a year that celebrates these characteristics, RLA looks forward to applying our own adaptability to support our clients’ expansive, multidisciplinary projects and to continue moving science forward in service of humanity.
| |
Supporting advancement of science in versatile ways | |
|
One key to adaptability is versatility—the ability to support a variety of projects with differing and dynamic needs. We’re pleased to share some recent and upcoming contracts that show the range of issues our clients are tackling and the research management, science communications, and meeting coordination support we can provide.
-
RLA provided logistical support for two recent meetings hosted by the National Cancer Institute: “Studying the Context and Complexity of Oncogenes and Oncogene Addiction Paradigms in MalignanciEs (SCOPE)” Think Tank Meeting (December 9-10, 2024) and the Division of Cancer Biology New Grantee Workshop (January 9-10, 2025). January 9 was declared a federal holiday in remembrance of President Jimmy Carter, resulting in closure of federal facilities where the grantee workshop was scheduled to take place. Without missing a beat, RLA pivoted within days to successfully move the workshop to a nonfederal location, allowing it to commence as scheduled.
-
In 2025, RLA’s writing team will continue to provide notetaking and meeting summary services for the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Accelerating Medicines Partnership® (AMP®) and Biomarkers Consortium (BC). RLA writers will attend more than 200 meetings and teleconferences on topics such as conducting trials of rare disease gene therapies and developing validated biomarkers for schizophrenia and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease).
-
As the Coordinating Center for the National Institute on Aging-funded AI and Technology Collaboratories for Aging Research program, RLA supports the annual AI/Tech and Aging (a2) National Symposium that convenes innovators, academics, and industry leaders to accelerate progress and collaboration. Register by February 28 to get the early-bird rate to attend the third a2 National Symposium on April 3-4 at the Harvard Club of Boston. For sponsorship opportunities, see: http://a2collective.ai/symposium/2025sponsor.
| |
Supporting safe blood transfusions through a red blood cell antibody patient data exchange | |
Fostering research integrity for better science | |
|
The HHS Office of Research Integrity (ORI) works with research communities to advance research integrity and protect taxpayer funds for Public Health Service-supported research. Although this mission hasn’t changed, RLA has worked with ORI to apply a new perspective on ways to foster research integrity effectively and efficiently.
RLA was instrumental in helping ORI draft and roll out its first regulation in nearly 20 years: “Public Health Service Policies on Research Misconduct.” RLA was heavily involved in drafting a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), analyzing public comments to this NPRM, capturing key decisions made by ORI leadership, and writing the regulation that was ultimately issued in September of last year. RLA supported ORI in developing a federal media rollout—including blog posts, social media, videos, slide decks, webinars, and conference presentations—and is now helping ORI issue guidance to support institutions in safeguarding science. These efforts showcase RLA’s ability to effectively apply our analytical, communications, and coordination capabilities to support development of a new federal regulation, and readily adapt to new challenges.
| |
Reaffirming the connection between diet and health | |
|
Connections between diet and health are subjects of longstanding research that are being approached in exciting new ways. Food Is Medicine (FIM) is an approach to improving health and preventing disease through nourishment, positioning healthy food as an integrated component of health care delivery. Following the 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) within HHS OASH launched the FIM initiative. The goal of this initiative is to develop and implement a federal strategy to reduce nutrition-related chronic disease and food insecurity.
In 2023–2024, RLA supported ODPHP’s efforts for the FIM initiative (in collaboration with our partner Lumina Corps). This year-long, multi-component project included content development for a FIM website that launched last fall, a landscape analysis of national FIM efforts, a primer on federal policies enabling FIM interventions, and a series of Bright Spots showcasing the implementation of FIM initiatives in various systems and settings across the United States. RLA reviewed literature, conducted semi-structured interviews with various stakeholders, analyzed responses to a Request for Information, and coordinated stakeholder workshops and meetings in support of ODPHP’s FIM efforts. RLA was thrilled to see the successful launch of the FIM website as a culmination of the joint effort between RLA and ODPHP.
| |
Follow RLA on LinkedIn and X! We post about health- and science-related topics that inspire us—and we hope they inspire you, too. Please like, share, and let us know what science is catching your attention today! | | | | |
