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                    Most Recent Reports**1 - 20 of 824 Reports**
	
	

	
	  **Released on   Apr 8, 2024**
          Federal Research: Key Practices for Scientific Program Managers
    GAO-24-106297
      Published:   Apr 8, 2024
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        Publicly Released:   Apr 8, 2024
.
    In fiscal year 2021, the federal government funded over $85 billion in basic research as well as early research directed toward a specific practical aim. Federal research spurs innovation and promotes national economic competitiveness, prosperity, and security. Scientific program managers at federal agencies that sponsor research play a crucial role in guiding and shaping the research. This report identifies key practices that program managers use...
      **Released on   Mar 25, 2024**
          Clinical Research: FDA Should Evaluate Its Efforts to Recruit and Retain Its Inspection Workforce
    GAO-24-106383
      Published:   Feb 22, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Mar 25, 2024
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    The FDA oversees clinical trials and other research involving human subjects, mostly for drugs trying to get FDA approval. This includes conducting inspections in hospitals and other healthcare settings in the U.S. and abroad. Recruiting and retaining investigators for these inspections has been a challenge—partly due to low compensation and heavy travel. This has resulted in fewer inspections and a less experienced workforce. FDA has...
          Science & Tech Spotlight: At-Home Tools to Diagnose Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Related Diseases
    GAO-24-107306
      Published:   Mar 25, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Mar 25, 2024
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    Neurodegenerative diseases affect about 7 million people in the U.S., with cases expected to increase. This Spotlight covers cognitive assessment apps and wearable sensors designed for home use. They can collect data on patients' cognitive and motor abilities and help detect symptoms of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Doctors can use data from these tools to diagnose diseases earlier and more accurately, and these tools...
      **Released on   Mar 14, 2024**
          Surface Transportation: DOT Considers Multiple Factors when Choosing the Volpe Center to Conduct Research
    GAO-24-106287
      Published:   Mar 14, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Mar 14, 2024
.
    The Department of Transportation funds research aimed at making the nation's transportation system safer and more efficient. DOT agencies, nonfederal entities, and the Volpe Center—DOT's fee-for-service innovation center—conduct research. Five DOT agencies committed a total of $50.5 million—13% of their total fiscal year 2022 research funding—to the Volpe Center. The remaining 87% went to universities, businesses, and other entities. DOT officials said they choose to...
      **Released on   Mar 11, 2024**
          Science & Tech Spotlight: Combating Deepfakes
    GAO-24-107292
      Published:   Mar 11, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Mar 11, 2024
.
    Deepfakes are videos, audio, or images that seem real but have been manipulated with AI. They've been used to try to influence elections and to create non-consensual pornography. Researchers are developing new ways to detect deepfakes, such as AI models that spot color abnormalities. And authentication methods, like digital watermarks, can help prove that a video or image has been altered. But simply detecting deepfakes...
      **Released on   Mar 4, 2024**
          Science & Tech Spotlight: Wearable Technologies in the Workplace
    GAO-24-107303
      Published:   Mar 4, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Mar 4, 2024
.
    In 2022, workers in warehousing, manufacturing, and construction experienced over 700,000 nonfatal injuries and over 2,000 fatal accidents. This Spotlight discusses how companies are deploying technologies worn on the body to try to improve safety and productivity. These wearable technologies vary in size and function. Technologies such as exoskeletons—which can provide physical support to the user's body during repetitive overhead work—are already in use in...
      **Released on   Feb 13, 2024**
          Small Business Innovation Research: Better Data and Clarity on Eligibility of Venture Capital-Owned Businesses Are Needed
    GAO-24-107004
      Published:   Feb 13, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Feb 13, 2024
.
    Agencies make Small Business Innovation Research awards to help small businesses bring their technologies to market. In this Q&A report, we review agencies' awards to businesses owned by venture capital firms, hedge funds, or private equity firms. These awards increased substantially in FYs 2021-2023—largely due to awards from DOD. But DOD found reliability issues with its data on such firms, so the extent of the...
      **Released on   Jan 31, 2024**
          Precision Agriculture: Benefits and Challenges for Technology Adoption and Use
    GAO-24-105962
      Published:   Jan 31, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jan 31, 2024
.
    Precision agriculture uses technologies such as GPS or automation to make farms more efficient. For example, farmers can use auto-steering equipment to precisely plant a field, and activity monitors can help dairy farmers collect data about their cows' health. In this Technology Assessment , we review the benefits and challenges of precision agriculture technologies. They can make farms more profitable and have environmental benefits—like reducing...
      **Released on   Jan 29, 2024**
          Artificial Intelligence: GAO's Work to Leverage Technology and Ensure Responsible Use
    GAO-24-107237
      Published:   Jan 30, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jan 29, 2024
.
    Artificial intelligence generally refers to computer systems that can solve problems and perform tasks that have traditionally required human intelligence. We testified about how GAO plans to use AI internally to enhance our effectiveness and efficiency. For example, we recently began deployment of a large language model as a tool to synthesize past reports, assist with editorial reviews, and scan congressional documents. By developing such...
      **Released on   Jan 25, 2024**
          Federal Regulation: Selected Emerging Technologies Highlight the Need for Legislative Analysis and Enhanced Coordination
    GAO-24-106122
      Published:   Jan 25, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jan 25, 2024
.
    Agencies face challenges regulating drones, medical devices with artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies in a timely manner. We asked agencies that regulate some of these complex, rapidly evolving technologies about their strategies. They told us that they: Use varied approaches—including strategic foresight tools like "scenario planning"—to anticipate regulatory issues Coordinate with other federal agencies and foreign governments to share information and achieve shared goals...
      **Released on   Jan 17, 2024**
          Higher Education: VA Should Provide Additional Information to Its Staff and Schools on the Rogers STEM Scholarship
    GAO-24-106492
      Published:   Jan 17, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jan 17, 2024
.
    Over 7,000 veterans have used a Veterans Affairs' Rogers STEM scholarship to pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math. VA provides some training and guidance to help its staff process scholarship applications. But some STEM majors—like engineering and math—are easier to identify than others. Using VA data, we found over 100 instances where it appeared VA approved the scholarships for non-STEM majors. VA confirmed...
      **Released on   Jan 11, 2024**
          Research Security: Strengthening Interagency Collaboration Could Help Agencies Safeguard Federal Funding from Foreign Threats
    GAO-24-106227
      Published:   Jan 11, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jan 11, 2024
.
    Federal agencies can award funds to foreign organizations or individuals to encourage scientific advancements. But some applicants may try to exploit U.S.-funded research—including in ways that jeopardize U.S. national security. While there are safeguards around these funds, not all agencies use the same tools to vet applicants. Also, agencies use available lists to determine which universities, companies, and other organizations are excluded from U.S. funding—but...
      **Released on   Dec 14, 2023**
          Artificial Intelligence: Actions Needed to Improve DOD's Workforce Management
    GAO-24-105645
      Published:   Dec 14, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Dec 14, 2023
.
    The Department of Defense has invested billions of dollars to integrate artificial intelligence into its operations. This includes analyzing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data, and operating deadly autonomous weapon systems. We found, however, that DOD can't fully identify who is part of its AI workforce or which positions require personnel with AI skills. As a result, DOD can't effectively assess the state of its AI...
          Artificial Intelligence in Natural Hazard Modeling: Severe Storms, Hurricanes, Floods, and Wildfires
    GAO-24-106213
      Published:   Dec 14, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Dec 14, 2023
.
    Severe storms, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires kill hundreds of people and cause billions of dollars in damage in the U.S. each year. Forecasting models can help predict these hazards. Machine learning—a type of artificial intelligence —can help improve model accuracy, increase warning times, and reduce uncertainty. Some machine learning forecasting models are in use, but there are challenges to developing and adopting them more widely...
          National Institute of Standards and Technology: Strengthening Disclosure Requirements and Assessing Training Could Improve Research Security
    GAO-24-106074
      Published:   Dec 14, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Dec 14, 2023
.
    Some foreign governments try to acquire U.S. research and technology dishonestly. Protecting federally funded research from such threats is critical. The National Institute of Standards and Technology collaborates with foreign and domestic researchers—requiring them to disclose potential conflicts of interest. But NIST doesn't require domestic researchers to disclose as much information as foreign nationals. NIST needs to ensure it can identify research security risks posed...
      **Released on   Dec 12, 2023**
          Artificial Intelligence: Agencies Have Begun Implementation but Need to Complete Key Requirements
    GAO-24-105980
      Published:   Dec 12, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Dec 12, 2023
.
    Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the world and could improve government operations. For example, federal agencies can use AI to analyze drone photos and large datasets. But safeguards are needed to manage AI risks. Federal law and guidance have several requirements for agencies implementing AI, but they haven't all been met. For example, there's no government-wide guidance on how agencies should acquire and use AI...
      **Released on   Dec 7, 2023**
          Low-Dose Radiation: Agency Leadership and Collaboration Are Needed to Set the Direction of Future Research
    GAO-24-106317
      Published:   Dec 7, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Dec 7, 2023
.
    Exposure to high doses of radiation is unhealthy—but what about low doses? The Department of Energy and other agencies have been supporting and conducting research to answer this question for more than 2 decades. In 2018, Congress directed DOE to lead a low-dose radiation research program. Congress also directed DOE to work with the National Academies to outline research priorities for the program. Its June...
      **Released on   Dec 5, 2023**
          Quantum Technologies: Defense Laboratories Should Take Steps to Improve Workforce Planning
    GAO-24-106284
      Published:   Dec 5, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Dec 5, 2023
.
    Quantum technologies build on quantum physics to process and communicate information in ways that existing technologies can't. Nations leading quantum research and development may have an edge in cryptography and computing—which are critical to national security. DOD has created multiple pathways to recruit highly specialized staff in physics, chemistry, and math and followed leading practices to build its quantum workforce. But some defense laboratories haven't...
          National Science Foundation: Additional Steps Would Improve Cost Estimate for Antarctic Research Infrastructure Project
    GAO-24-106380
      Published:   Dec 5, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Dec 5, 2023
.
    The National Science Foundation funds and oversees the design, construction, and operations of science and engineering research infrastructure—like telescopes and research facilities. We report annually on these projects. In July 2022, we reported that the pandemic led to cost increases and schedule delays for NSF's major facilities projects. NSF has decided to adjust the cost and schedule for 5 major projects—including a project to modernize...
      **Released on   Nov 30, 2023**
          Science & Tech Spotlight: Ocean Warming
    GAO-24-107068
      Published:   Nov 30, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Nov 30, 2023
.
    The ocean is storing much of Earth's excess heat. The resulting ocean warming contributes to problems such as rising sea level, ice-sheet melting, and coral bleaching. This Spotlight report covers these and other issues, including effects on coastal communities and difficulty predicting change in complex systems like global ocean currents. We also discuss opportunities, like restoring mangroves as barriers against storm surges and other "nature-based...
    
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