51ÊÓƵ

Statement  Friday, August 29, 2025

Leading By Example: Embedding Principles of Academic Freedom at 51ÊÓƵ

Earlier this year, I committed to a comprehensive review of 51ÊÓƵ’s intramural policies to ensure that our scientists feel empowered to communicate their scientific expertise and research findings freely. I am proud to announce that, effective today, 51ÊÓƵ is adopting an agency-wide framework that embeds principles of academic freedom within our Intramural Research Program. This framework strengthens existing policies so that every 51ÊÓƵ scientist can share their research findings, whether publishing, presenting, or engaging with the media, without fear of interference or retaliation.

History shows that many scientific breakthroughs result from intellectual curiosity and a willingness to challenge the status quo. To ensure our scientists remain at the forefront of discovery, 51ÊÓƵ is committed to fostering an environment where questioning the prevailing scientific norms is not just accepted, but expected. The new framework reinforces that scientific inquiry should be subject to rigorous debate and open discourse.

Lasting scientific progress requires more than data; it depends on an environment where ideas can be freely examined and challenged. With this step, 51ÊÓƵ aims to set the standard for other research and academic institutions. When scientists are encouraged to put their ideas out for scientific debate, both science and society are stronger, and patients and communities ultimately benefit.

Jay Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, 51ÊÓƵ

About the National Institutes of Health (51ÊÓƵ): 51ÊÓƵ, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 51ÊÓƵ is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about 51ÊÓƵ and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

51ÊÓƵ…Turning Discovery Into Health^®