Announcements

Nephele, a Web-based Platform for Microbiome Data Analysis, Updated

Nephele is a web-based platform for microbiome data analysis. It was developed by NIH scientists to make microbiome analysis easier, streamlined, and more accessible for a variety of users. The Nephele team will release a major update to Nephele on May 20. 

NIH Reviews Policies to Promote Academic Freedom

NIH Director Jayanta Bhattachrya said he will prioritize academic freedom in pursuit of public trust. Read more in this NIH statement.

NIH to Prioritize Human-based Research Technologies

A new initiative aims to reduce use of animals in NIH-funded research. Read the NIH statement to learn more.

A Reminder: VisitNIH Visitor Access Processes

NIH welcomes visitors from across the United States and around the world. To prioritize safety and security procedures and ensure the safety of patients, employees, guests, and facilities, a new efficient and effective visitor access management process for all visitors in now in place. ​​

Read about the VisitNIH pre-registration process, which supports greater physical security and a safer environment for NIH to conduct its work.​​​

ORF Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) — Cold Storage Coordinator

A reminder from the ORF Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) that all ICs need to have a Cold Storage Coordinator, as outlined in NIH Manual Chapter 26101-16. 

Many ICs have not yet assigned a coordinator (see list of current coordinators here), and are asked to email Virgil Thornton or Jaroslav Sebek with the name of your appointed individual. There are multiple benefits to having a Coordinator, including centralized data in case of emergency, increased freezer reliability, and reduced operational costs. You are also reminded about the NIH Freezer Challenge which assists ICs to develop further improvements.

Additional information can be found at:

• Sustainability Cold Storage Coordinators
• Sustainability The NIH Freezer Challenge
• Sustainability Freezer Management

Continuing Medical Education (CME) Credits:

Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits are a form of ongoing professional development for medical professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers. These credits are earned through participating in educational activities that enhance their knowledge and skills in medicine and healthcare. The goal of CME is to ensure that healthcare professionals stay current with the latest medical advancements, treatment protocols, technologies, and best practices, ultimately improving patient care. CME activities are offered by the National Institutes of Health with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine as the CME provider. A unique CME code is announced at the start of each lecture. You can receive CME credit for live lectures only, either in person or via NIH VideoCast; please note that CME credit cannot be offered for archived lectures.

The following lectures offer CME:

• Clinical Center Grand Rounds (1 credit)
• Clinical Neuroscience Grand Rounds (1 credit)
• Demystifying Medicine Lecture Series (2 credits)
• EXCEL Lecture Series (1 credit) (NIH only)
• Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series (WALS) (1 credit)
• Principles of Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology Lecture Series (1 credit)

To find upcoming CME lectures, search under advanced options on the NIH Calendar.