AAU
@aau.edu
The Association of American Universities’ 71 research universities transform lives through education, research, and innovation.
Beginning in fall 2027, Rice University will offer free tuition to students from families earning less than $200,000 annually. Read more on how Rice is making a high-quality education affordable to families from all backgrounds:
Rice expands signature financial aid program, offering free tuition to families earning up to $200,000 | Association of American Universities (AAU)
Expanded Rice Investment strengthens access and affordability while building opportunity for future generations.
aau.edu
Research at the University of Kansas has led to technology that studies human movement, improving athletes' performance and aiding rehabilitation after injuries.
Axiocell™
AUTM's Better World Project seeks to highlight successful examples of technology transfer, demonstrating its importance and positive impact on the world.
autm.net
Congratulations to the AAU member universities whose projects were selected as part of the national Genesis Mission. DOE Secretary Chris Wright said that the projects "represent the very best of our nation’s scientific enterprise."
Many AAU Institutions Among DOE’s First Genesis Awards for AI Driven Science | Association of American Universities (AAU)
Many AAU members are represented as both leads and as institutional partners in the 278 projects selected for the Genesis Mission’s initial national portfolio of research teams.
aau.edu
OMB's proposed changes to how federal agencies administer financial assistance (also known as "Uniform Guidance") has raised alarm across sectors — including those well beyond academia.
Organizations from Well Beyond Academia Sound Alarm on OMB’s Proposed Grantmaking Changes | Association of American Universities (AAU)
Taken together, their comments paint a troubling picture of how OMB’s proposal could undermine the effectiveness and stability of federal financial assistance, making it harder for nonprofits, states, and localities from carrying out their public service missions.
aau.edu
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz found that microplastics can harm birds in a way very similar to how they harm humans.
Ubiquitous plastics may trigger hormone disruption in seabirds, new study finds | Association of American Universities (AAU)
A study by UC Santa Cruz indicates that plastic swallowed by seabirds caused impaired fertility, development, and behavior, similar to responses seen in humans.
aau.edu
A new study warns that our nation's STEM talent pipeline is cracking as disruptions to American science are causing young researchers to rethink their future in academia or even whether they wish to stay in the U.S.
Study Shows Early-Career Scientists in the U.S. Are Rethinking Their Future in Academia | Association of American Universities (AAU)
This shift in career intentions, the study’s authors say, is an early warning that the U.S. STEM talent pipeline – which feeds both academic and industrial research and development – is cracking.
aau.edu
While the NIH has almost caught up to last year's pace in terms of dollars spent, far fewer new grants have been awarded — meaning fewer opportunities for lifesaving discoveries.
NIH likely to award fewer grants as it races to spend 2026 budget
Government shutdown, staff shortages have complicated effort to meet 30 September deadline to spend funds
science.org
A recent study found that, contrary to the popular myth of the successful billionaire college dropout, most so-called “unicorn founders” of billion-dollar startups are highly educated.
The Myth of the Billionaire Dropout: Study Finds Typical “Unicorn Founder” Is Highly Educated | Association of American Universities (AAU)
The study shows that most so-called “unicorn founders” of billion-dollar startups are significantly more educated than the general population. The highest producing schools are all AAU institutions.
aau.edu
A research collaboration led by Brown University uses innovative wearable technology to better understand, detect, and prevent traumatic brain injuries. #WorldBrainDay
Brown engineers tackle brain injuries with innovative wearable technology | Association of American Universities (AAU)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Traumatic brain injuries are a pervasive yet elusive health problem, affecting millions worldwide. According to recent data, an estimated 2 million people experience a traumatic brain injury each year in the U.S. From kids and adults on playing fields, to soldiers and sailors on battlefields, the risk of brain injury includes everything from mild concussion to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) — a progressive disease often associated with football players who suffer repeated blows to the head.
aau.edu
As of July 12, NSF has awarded only 2,470 new grants in FY26 — falling behind the pace of previous years. Funding fewer projects means fewer opportunities for scientists to do the basic research that feeds future innovation.
#OTD in 1969, NASA's Apollo 11 landed on the moon. Today, new NASA missions like Artemis II are furthering lunar exploration — and they use research done on our nation's campuses to succeed.
AAU Institutions Make Stellar Contributions to Artemis II Mission | Association of American Universities (AAU)
Though NASA’s astronauts are back on Earth following the completion of the Artemis II mission, the scientific impact of their historic trip around the moon will continue to reverberate for years to come – and research from AAU member universities is partially responsible for the success of the program that launched it.
aau.edu
Why are some fire seasons more destructive than others? Researchers at UC Irvine have found the answer.
UC Irvine scientists discover what drives California's worst fire years | Association of American Universities (AAU)
In a new study, scientists at the UC Irvine reveal how clusters of lightning-ignited fires, called fire complexes, are the chief drivers of the most destructive fire years, making agencies better equipped to manage such fires when they occur.
aau.edu
AAU urges OMB to rescind or seriously modify the proposed changes to "Uniform Guidance," the framework by which federal grants are administered. These changes would seriously undermine America's scientific enterprise. Read the comment here: www.aau.edu/key-issues/a...
"Infantry wins battles, logistics wins wars," said WWI U.S. Army General John J. Pershing. Learn how university research is contributing to military success, especially in "contested logistics" environments:
University Research Helps the Military Overcome Contested Logistics | Association of American Universities (AAU)
University research has played a key role in developing technological tools that help the U.S. military keep supplies moving in "constested logistics" environments, where adversaries target supply routes, bases, infrastructure, and the data and networks that support them. These tools like AI-driven forecasting, drones, 3D printing, and localized energy systems make military logistics more flexible, reliable, and resilient.
aau.edu
With a U.S. Navy grant, university researcher Jessica Cantlon studied whether people could improve their spatial problem-solving skills — which is critical for navigating military ships and airplanes. But last year, her funding was cut.
She Studied Ways to Make People Smarter
Jessica Cantlon had a grant with the U.S. Navy to explore whether people could improve spatial problem-solving skills through training. Then the program was cut.
nytimes.com
AAU urges OMB to rescind or seriously modify its proposed changes to "Uniform Guidance," the framework by which federal grants are administered. These changes would adversely impact our nation's scientific enterprise. Read more:
AAU Tells Administration Proposed Grant Regulations Would Endanger America’s Scientific Enterprise | Association of American Universities (AAU)
AAU has submitted comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), urging it to rescind or seriously modify a set of changes the agency has proposed that would affect the entire system for federal grants and other federal financial assistance.
aau.edu
🚨 This fiscal year is shaping up to be the worst year in terms of grants awarded by NSF in more than half a century. The delay in the awarding and funding of grants is causing severe damage to the nation's scientific enterprise.
NSF Is Making Fewer Grants, Threatening the Future of Scientific Discovery | Association of American Universities (AAU)
While FY25 was already one of the worst years in NSF’s recent history in terms of how many grants went out its doors, the current fiscal year is shaping up to be even worse.
aau.edu
According to Moody's Ratings, OMB's proposed changes to Uniform Guidance could downgrade the credit ratings of cities, counties, states, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations across the nation — and could make life more expensive for all of us.
OMB’s Proposal Creates Fiscal Uncertainty for States, Localities, and Nonprofits and the People They Serve | Association of American Universities (AAU)
If a new administration proposal that changes the way the federal government awards and administers grants takes effect, municipalities, hospitals, and nonprofits could see downgraded credit ratings, making life more expensive for all of us.
aau.edu
Soon after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2017, Marty Meagher began to struggle with simple tasks. But years after her diagnosis, Marty's cognitive abilities have greatly improved, thanks to a novel treatment at USF.
How cell phone research at USF sparked a new approach to treating Alzheimer’s disease | Association of American Universities (AAU)
Researchers at the University of South Florida have discovered that electromagnetic wave emissions showed significant improvements in the memory performance of people with Alzheimer's disease by replenishing the powerhouse of the human cell — mitochondria.
aau.edu
Thank you Sen. Collins for requesting that OMB withdraw parts of the proposed changes to Uniform Guidance — which would have an adverse impact on scientific research — and extend the comment period to no less than 90 days. Read more:
Sen. Collins Asks OMB to Withdraw Parts of Grant Rule, Extend Comment Period | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
appropriations.senate.gov
The number of students admitted to PhD programs this fall dropped 15 percent from the previous year, AAU data showed. "We are at risk of losing a whole generation of new talent," said AAU's @scipolguy.bsky.social.
Decline of Ph.D. Admissions Could Imperil a ‘Generation of New Talent’
nytimes.com
As we celebrate #America250, we also applaud American ingenuity and curiosity-driven science that has yielded some of the most transformative innovations in human history. Learn about 12 innovations that can be traced back to university research:
Celebrating 250 Years of American Science | Association of American Universities (AAU)
The United States has been a country of citizen-scientists from its very beginning. As Americans around the country celebrate our nation’s founding this Independence Day, they can also take pride in the 250 years of science and innovation that have shaped the United States.
aau.edu
24% of current unicorn startups were founded by individuals who first came to the U.S. as international students. On average, each of the 183 unicorn companies founded by international students created 1,123 jobs.
Interrupting one function of a protein that plays a key role in cell signaling could enable the development of new cancer treatments, a study led by Brown University found.
New discovery in cancer signaling reveals a potential path to more effective cancer drugs | Association of American Universities (AAU)
A large, multi-institution study led by a Brown University physician-scientist could have important implications for the development of new classes of cancer therapeutics.
aau.edu
Humanities research happening on America's college campuses tells the story of our nation. From preserving George Washington's papers to sharing songs that define America, universities help promote our nation's history. #America250
America at 250: Research Universities Are Crucial to Preserving and Telling Our Nation’s Story | Association of American Universities (AAU)
How do we tell the story of America on its 250th birthday? How do we learn about its past, its culture, its literature, its traditions, and its arts? Chances are the answers can be uncovered at a university campus, including its library, museum, or archive.
aau.edu
Did you know that the invention of GLP-1 drugs came out of federally-funded research on lizard venom? Advancements in treatments, cures, and other innovations require researchers to pursue seemingly strange questions. Federal support fuels this work.
Opinion | The Science That Turned Lizard Venom Into GLP-1s Is Under Attack
nytimes.com
Spotted lanternflies threaten native plants and animals and cause environmental and economic damage. A study at New York University revealed that urban lanternflies are adapting to city life — requiring better invasive species management efforts in cities.
How Cities Primed Spotted Lanternflies to Thrive in the US | Association of American Universities (AAU)
Spotted lanternflies are adapting to the pressures of city life such as heat, pollution, and pesticides, according to genomic analyses of the invasive insects in the US and their native China. These findings show how urbanization may be shaping the spotted lanternfly’s spread into new environments.
aau.edu
The New World screwworm is back, threatening livestock and the livelihoods of livestock producers. Learn how university research helped eradicate the screwworm in the past and how universities are fighting the pest today:
The New World Screwworm Is Back – and University Research Is Helping Farmers Fight the Pest and Save Livestock | Association of American Universities (AAU)
As the threat emerges again, university experts continue to build on past knowledge gained through decades of federally funded, basic research to protect farmers’ livelihoods and our food supply.
aau.edu
Researchers at Penn State found that when a father was warm and developmentally supportive with his baby, that child had better markers of physical health as they got older. #FathersDay
Fathers’ early interactions with babies may affect child health years later | Association of American Universities (AAU)
Members of a family can affect the psychological and even physical health of each other, according to Penn State researchers. Credit: GAEUL PARK/Getty Images. All Rights Reserved.
aau.edu
Why are some able to tolerate food that causes allergic reactions in others? Researchers at Stanford University investigated.
Immune ‘peacekeepers’ teach the body which foods are safe to eat | Association of American Universities (AAU)
Researchers at Stanford University have discovered how chemical sequences in common foods like wheat signal to the immune system that a particular food is safe to eat, leading to the potential development of treatments and therapies that can reduce or prevent food allergies.
aau.edu