NIH prepares to toughen harassment rules.

Abstract

Last year, on the heels of several high-profile cases of sexual harassment in science, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, came under fire for standing by while another major U.S. research funding agency, the National Science Foundation (NSF), quickly tightened its policies. But now, NIH officials appear ready to act—and even to go beyond NSF9s rules. NIH leaders said last week that they plan to move forward with four recommendations from a group advising the agency, including hard-hitting reporting requirements aimed at making sure NIH doesn9t unknowingly fund researchers found guilty of sexual harassment. NIH Director Francis Collins said he welcomed the advice from the 14 outside scientists and seven NIH staff members who had been meeting since February. The group9s report is also drawing praise from the #MeTooSTEM movement and others.