Next Generation Researchers Act

To demonstrate a commitment to our Nation’s scientists by increasing opportunities for the development of our next generation of researchers. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Next Generation Researchers Act 2. Investing in the next generation of researchers Part A of title IV of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 281 et seq. 404M. Next generation of researchers (a) Next Generation of Researchers Initiative There shall be established within the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Next Generation of Researchers Initiative (referred to in this section as the Initiative (b) Activities The Director of NIH, through the Initiative shall— (1) promote policies and programs within the National Institutes of Health that are aimed at improving opportunities for new researchers and promoting earlier research independence, including existing policies and programs such as the Pathway to Independence Award, the NIH Director's New Innovator Award, the Early Independence Award, and Early-Stage Investigator grant review procedures; (2) develop, modify, or accelerate policies, as needed, within the National Institutes of Health to promote opportunities for new researchers and earlier research independence, including policies to enhance training opportunities for research-related career options, strengthen mentorship programs between new and veteran researchers, enhance workforce diversity efforts, and help to improve new researchers' success in obtaining renewal funding; (3) coordinate with appropriate agencies and academic institutions to develop systems to enhance workforce data for biomedical postdoctoral researchers and students to help improve tracking of trainees and career progress; and (4) carry out other activities, as appropriate, to promote the development of the next generation of researchers and earlier research independence. (c) Study and report (1) Study The Director of NIH shall request the National Academy of Sciences, as part of the studies conducted under section 489, to conduct a comprehensive study on policies affecting the next generation of researchers in the United States. Such study shall include an evaluation of, and strategies to address, the legislative, administrative, educational, and cultural barriers to providing for a successful next generation of researchers and to promote earlier research independence. (2) Report Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of the Next Generation Researchers Act (A) an evaluation of the legislative, administrative, educational, and cultural barriers faced by the next generation of researchers; (B) an evaluation of the impact of sequestration resulting from the Budget Control Act of 2011 ( Public Law 112–25 (C) recommendations for the implementation of policies to incentivize, improve entry into, and sustain careers in research for the next generation of researchers and to promote earlier research independence, including proposed policies for agencies and academic institutions. . 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Next Generation Researchers Act 2. Investing in the next generation of researchers (a) In general Part A of title IV of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 281 et seq. 404M. Next generation of researchers (a) Next generation of researchers initiative There shall be established within the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Next Generation of Researchers Initiative (referred to in this section as the Initiative (b) Activities The Director of the National Institutes of Health, through the Initiative shall— (1) promote policies and programs within the National Institutes of Health that are focused on improving opportunities for new researchers and promoting earlier research independence, including existing policies and programs, as appropriate; (2) develop, modify, or prioritize policies, as needed, within the National Institutes of Health to promote opportunities for new researchers and earlier research independence, such as policies to increase opportunities for new researchers to receive funding, enhance training and mentorship programs for researchers, and enhance workforce diversity; (3) coordinate, as appropriate, with relevant agencies, professional and academic associations, academic institutions, and others, to improve and update existing information on the biomedical research workforce in order to inform programs related to the training, recruitment, and retention of biomedical researchers; and (4) carry out other activities, including evaluation and oversight of existing programs, as appropriate, to promote the development of the next generation of researchers and earlier research independence. . (b) National Academy of Sciences recommendations In carrying out activities under section 404M(b) of the Public Health Service Act, the Director of the National Institutes of Health shall take into consideration the recommendations made by the National Academies of Sciences as part of the comprehensive study on policies affecting the next generation of researchers under the Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law No. 114-113), and submit a report to Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, with respect to any actions taken by the National Institutes of Health based on the recommendations not later than 2 years after the completion of the study required pursuant to such Public Law No. 114-113. 3. Intramural and extramural loan repayment programs (a) Intramural loan repayment program Section 487A of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 288-1 (1) in the section heading, by striking FOR RESEARCH WITH RESPECT TO ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME (2) in subsection (a)— (A) by striking The Secretary shall carry out a program The Director of NIH shall, as appropriate and based on workforce and scientific priorities, carry out a program through the subcategories listed in subsection (b)(1) (or modified subcategories as provided for in subsection (b)(2)) (B) by striking conduct conduct research (C) by striking research with respect to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (D) by striking $35,000 $50,000 (3) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (d); (4) by inserting after subsection (a), the following: (b) Subcategories of research (1) In general In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Director of NIH— (A) shall continue to focus on— (i) general research; (ii) research on acquired immune deficiency syndrome; and (iii) clinical research conducted by appropriately qualified health professional who are from disadvantaged backgrounds; and (B) may focus on an area of emerging scientific or workforce need. (2) Elimination or establishment of subcategories The Director of NIH may eliminate one or more subcategories provided for in paragraph (1) due to changes in workforce or scientific needs related to biomedical research. The Director may establish other subcategory areas based on workforce and scientific priorities if the total number of subcategories does not exceed the number of subcategories listed in paragraph (1). (c) Limitation The Director of NIH may not enter into contract with a health professional pursuant to subsection (a) unless such professional has a substantial amount of education loans relative to income (as determined pursuant to guidelines issued by the Director). ; and (5) by adding at the end the following: (e) Availability of appropriations Amounts available for carrying out this section shall remain available until the expiration of the second fiscal year beginning after the fiscal year for which such amounts are made available. . (b) Extramural loan repayment program Section 487B of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 288-2 (1) in the section heading, by striking FOR RESEARCH WITH RESPECT TO CONTRACEPTION AND INFERTILITY (2) in subsection (a)— (A) by striking The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, shall establish a program In general.— (B) by striking (including graduate students) (C) by striking with respect to contraception, or with respect to infertility, (D) by striking service, not more than $35,000 research, not more than $50,000 (3) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively; (4) by inserting after subsection (a), the following: (b) Subcategories of research (1) In general In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Director of NIH— (A) shall continue to focus on— (i) contraception or infertility research; (ii) pediatric research; (iii) minority health disparities research; (iv) clinical research; and (v) clinical research conducted by appropriately qualified health professional who are from disadvantaged backgrounds; and (B) may focus on an area of emerging scientific or workforce need. (2) Elimination or establishment of subcategories The Director of NIH may eliminate one or more subcategories provided for in paragraph (1) due to changes in workforce or scientific needs related to biomedical research. The Director may establish other subcategory areas based on workforce and scientific priorities if the total number of subcategories does not exceed the number of subcategories listed in paragraph (1). (c) Limitation The Director of NIH may not enter into contract with a health professional pursuant to subsection (a) unless such professional has a substantial amount of education loans relative to income (as determined pursuant to guidelines issued by the Director). ; (5) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated), by striking The provisions Applicability of certain provisions regarding obligated service.— (6) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated), by striking Amounts Availability of appropriations.— (c) Technical and conforming amendments Title IV of the Public Health Service Act is amended— (1) by striking section 464z-5 ( 42 U.S.C. 285t-2 (2) by striking section 487C ( 42 U.S.C. 288-3 (3) by striking section 487E ( 42 U.S.C. 288-5 (4) by striking section 487F (42 U.S.C. 288-5a). (d) GAO report Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the efforts of the National Institutes of Health to attract, retain, and develop emerging scientists, including underrepresented individuals in the sciences, such as women and other groups. Such report shall include an analysis of the impact of the additional authority provided to the Secretary of Health and Human Services under this Act to address workforce shortages and gaps in priority research areas, including which centers and research areas offered loan repayment program participants the increased award amount. April 4, 2016 Reported with an amendment

Summary: Next Generation Researchers Act (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the Next Generation of Researchers Initiative in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to promote, provide, and improve opportunities for new researchers and earlier research independence. The initiative must: (1) coordinate with agencies, academic institutions, and others to improve and update existing information on the biomedical research workforce, and (2) take into consideration the recommendations of the National Academies of Sciences regarding the next generation of researchers and report on actions taken based on those recommendations. (Sec. 3) The bill revises loan repayment programs for health professionals conducting research to increase the maximum repayment amount and to give the NIH the authority to expand eligibility for the programs based on workforce and scientific priorities. The Government Accountability Office must report on NIH efforts to attract, retain, and develop emerging scientists.