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Item Navigating a stable transition to the age of intelligence: A mental wealth perspective(Elsevier, 2024) Occhipinti, Jo-An; Prodan, Ante; Hynes, William; Eyre, Harris A.; Schulze, Alex; Ujdur, Goran; Tanner, MarcelIn the grand narrative of technological evolution, we are transitioning from the “Age of Information” to the “Age of Intelligence.” Rapid advancements in generative artificial intelligence (AI) are set to reshape society, revolutionize industries, and change the nature of work, challenging our traditional understanding of the dynamics of the economy and its relationship with human productivity and societal prosperity. As we brace for this transformative shift, promising advancements in healthcare, education, productivity, and more, there are concerns of large-scale job loss, mental health repercussions, and risks to social stability and democracy. This paper proposes the concept of Mental Wealth as an action framework that supports nations to proactively position themselves for a smooth transition to the Age of Intelligence while fostering economic and societal prosperity.Item US state laws on medical freedom and investigational stem cell procedures: a call to focus on state-based legislation(Elsevier, 2024) Matthews, Kirstin R. W.; Lowe, Samantha J.; Master, ZubinThe premature marketing of investigational stem cell interventions (SCIs) is a growing market in the US. Several US states have passed legislation to permit and promote unproven and experimental SCIs for individuals with terminal or chronic diseases. These SCI medical freedom laws, which are largely based on right-to-try legislation, increase access to experimental SCIs with little to no oversight. They undermine federal regulatory authority and can compromise patient safety and informed decision-making. SCI medical freedom laws have gone largely unnoticed by scientific societies interested in the responsible translation of stem cell medicine. In this article, we analyze state SCI medical freedom laws and describe their detrimental impact on patients and society. We contend that scientific and medical societies are uniquely poised to advocate against state-based policy promoting unproven SCIs but recognize resource and other constraints to advocate for or against legislation in 50 states. We recommend societies establish coalitions and share resources to address state-based SCI medical freedom laws and other legislation surrounding unproven SCIs.Item The influence of economic policies on social environments and mental health(World Health Organization, 2024) Occhipinti, Jo-An; Skinner, Adam; Doraiswamy, P. Murali; Saxena, Shekhar; Eyre, Harris A.; Hynes, William; Geli, Patricia; Jeste, Dilip V.; Graham, Carol; Song, Christine; Prodan, Ante; Ujdur, Goran; Buchanan, John; Rosenberg, Sebastian; Crosland, Paul; Hickie, Ian B.Despite increased advocacy and investments in mental health systems globally, there has been limited progress in reducing mental disorder prevalence. In this paper, we argue that meaningful advancements in population mental health necessitate addressing the fundamental sources of shared distress. Using a systems perspective, economic structures and policies are identified as the potential cause of causes of mental ill-health. Neoliberal ideologies, prioritizing economic optimization and continuous growth, contribute to the promotion of individualism, job insecurity, increasing demands on workers, parental stress, social disconnection and a broad range of manifestations well-recognized to erode mental health. We emphasize the need for mental health researchers and advocates to increasingly engage with the economic policy discourse to draw attention to mental health and well-being implications. We call for a shift towards a well-being economy to better align commercial interests with collective well-being and social prosperity. The involvement of individuals with lived mental ill-health experiences, practitioners and researchers is needed to mobilize communities for change and influence economic policies to safeguard well-being. Additionally, we call for the establishment of national mental wealth observatories to inform coordinated health, social and economic policies and realize the transition to a more sustainable well-being economy that offers promise for progress on population mental health outcomes.Item Representing science: diversity on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology(Oxford University Press, 2024) Evans, Kenneth M.; Matthews, Kirstin R.W.; Baker Institute Science and Technology Policy ProgramFederal advisory committees related to science and technology are important mechanisms for connecting policy-makers with independent experts and the broader public. The balance of represented expertise and viewpoints shapes a committee’s intended advisory role, consensus building processes, and the quality and impact of its policy recommendations. This paper presents the first historical analysis of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) and examines its changing balance of social and p rofessional perspectives from 1990 to 2023. We demonstrate that PCAST’s balance has shifted to be more inclusive of different social groups and professional backgrounds over time, particularly under President Biden. We conclude with recommendations for future WhiteHouse science policy advisory bodies to ensure they are adequately representative of the diversity of perspectives in the US research enterprise and the overall US population.Item The Perils of Complacency: America at a Tipping Point in Science & Engineering(American Academy of Arts & Sciences, 2020) American Academy of Arts & Sciences; Baker Institute for Public PolicyThis consensus report jointly published by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy examines current and historical challenges to America's leadership in scientific research and development and makes recommendations for improving the U.S. science, technology, and innovation policy.Item A Recombinant Protein XBB.1.5 RBD/Alum/CpG Vaccine Elicits High Neutralizing Antibody Titers against Omicron Subvariants of SARS-CoV-2Thimmiraju, Syamala Rani; Adhikari, Rakesh; Villar, Maria Jose; Lee, Jungsoon; Liu, Zhuyun; Kundu, Rakhi; Chen, Yi-Lin; Sharma, Suman; Ghei, Karm; Keegan, Brian; Versteeg, Leroy; Gillespie, Portia M.; Ciciriello, Allan; Islam, Nelufa Y.; Poveda, Cristina; Uzcategui, Nestor; Chen, Wen-Hsiang; Kimata, Jason T.; Zhan, Bin; Strych, Ulrich; Bottazzi, Maria Elena; Hotez, Peter J.; Pollet, Jeroen(1) Background: We previously reported the development of a recombinant protein SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, consisting of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide (alum) and CpG oligonucleotides. In mice and non-human primates, our wild-type (WT) RBD vaccine induced high neutralizing antibody titers against the WT isolate of the virus, and, with partners in India and Indonesia, it was later developed into two closely resembling human vaccines, Corbevax and Indovac. Here, we describe the development and characterization of a next-generation vaccine adapted to the recently emerging XBB variants of SARS-CoV-2. (2) Methods: We conducted preclinical studies in mice using a novel yeast-produced SARS-CoV-2 XBB.1.5 RBD subunit vaccine candidate formulated with alum and CpG. We examined the neutralization profile of sera obtained from mice vaccinated twice intramuscularly at a 21-day interval with the XBB.1.5-based RBD vaccine, against WT, Beta, Delta, BA.4, BQ.1.1, BA.2.75.2, XBB.1.16, XBB.1.5, and EG.5.1 SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses. (3) Results: The XBB.1.5 RBD/CpG/alum vaccine elicited a robust antibody response in mice. Furthermore, the serum from vaccinated mice demonstrated potent neutralization against the XBB.1.5 pseudovirus as well as several other Omicron pseudoviruses. However, regardless of the high antibody cross-reactivity with ELISA, the anti-XBB.1.5 RBD antigen serum showed low neutralizing titers against the WT and Delta virus variants. (4) Conclusions: Whereas we observed modest cross-neutralization against Omicron subvariants with the sera from mice vaccinated with the WT RBD/CpG/Alum vaccine or with the BA.4/5-based vaccine, the sera raised against the XBB.1.5 RBD showed robust cross-neutralization. These findings underscore the imminent opportunity for an updated vaccine formulation utilizing the XBB.1.5 RBD antigen.Item Ethical, legal, regulatory, and policy issues concerning embryoids: a systematic review of the literatureIltis, Ana S.; Koster, Grace; Reeves, Emily; Matthews, Kirstin R. W.Recent advances in methods to culture pluripotent stem cells to model human development have resulted in entities that increasingly have recapitulated advanced stages of early embryo development. These entities, referred to by numerous terms such as embryoids, are becoming more sophisticated and could resemble human embryos ever more closely as research progresses. This paper reports a systematic review of the ethical, legal, regulatory, and policy questions and concerns found in the literature concerning human embryoid research published from 2016 to 2022. We identified 56 papers that use 53 distinct names or terms to refer to embryoids and four broad categories of ethical, legal, regulatory, or policy considerations in the literature: research justifications/benefits, ethical significance or moral status, permissible use, and regulatory and oversight challenges. Analyzing the full range of issues is a critical step toward fostering more robust ethical, legal, and social implications research in this emerging area and toward developing appropriate oversight.Item Adopting a Circular Economy for Surgical Care to Address Supply Chain Shocks and Climate ChangeMehtsun, Winta T.; Hyland, Colby J.; Offodile, Anaeze C., IIAs the severity and frequency of climate change–induced weather events increase and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on global trade persist, the health care sector remains vulnerable to supply chain disturbances internationally. Health care is a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Supply chains, including food and transportation, account for up to 80% of total health care–associated emissions in the US. Downstream consequences of GHG emissions from US health care are severe, resulting in losses of approximately 388 000 disability-adjusted life-years annually. In turn, health care systems are working to minimize GHG emissions and restructure supply chains.Item The Brain Health Diplomat's Toolkit: supporting brain health diplomacy leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean(Elsevier) Dawson, Walter D.; Booi, Laura; Pintado-Caipa, Maritza; Okada de Oliveira, Maira; Kornhuber, Alex; Spoden, Natasha; Golonka, Ona; Shallcross, Lenny; Davidziuk, Alejandra; Cominetti, Márcia Regina; Vergara-Manríquez, Mayte; Kochhann, Renata; Robertson, Ian; Eyre, Harris A.; Ibáñez, AgustinMaintaining and improving brain health, one of the most critical global challenges of this century, necessitates innovative, interdisciplinary, and collaborative strategies to address the growing challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean. This paper introduces Brain Health Diplomacy (BHD) as a pioneering approach to bridge disciplinary and geographic boundaries and mobilize resources to promote equitable brain health outcomes in the region. Our framework provides a toolkit for emerging brain health leaders, equipping them with essential concepts and practical resources to apply in their professional work and collaborations. By providing case studies, we highlight the importance of culturally sensitive, region-specific interventions to address unique needs of vulnerable populations. By encouraging dialogue, ideation, and cross-sector discussions, we aspire to develop new research, policy, and programmatic avenues. The novel BHD approach has the potential to revolutionize brain health across the region and beyond, ultimately contributing to a more equitable global cognitive health landscape.Item The Importance of Science Advocacy(Journal of Science Policy & Governance, Inc.) Evans, Kenneth; Matthews, KirstinItem U.S. Scientific Research and Development 202: A Critical Look at the Federal Research and Development Funding System(Center for American Progress) Matthews, Kirstin R.W.; Evans, Kenneth M.; Lane, Neal F.As a new Congress begins to deal with the federal budget, it is useful to review the budget setting process in the United States as it applies to research and development (R&D). The federal R&D budget process is a complex, often confusing, procedure characterized by a series of lengthy and frequently contentious negotiations between Congress, the Executive Office of the President, and numerous cabinet-level departments and federal agencies, all attempting to respond to an abundance of expectations and conflicting demands. Here we focus on the parts of the federal budget that deal with science and technology R&D funding in particular.Item Human Schistosomiasis Vaccines as Next Generation Control Tools(MDPI) Hotez, Peter J.; Bottazzi, Maria Elena; James A. Baker III Institute for Public PolicyHuman schistosomiasis remains one of the most important yet neglected tropical diseases, with the latest estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study indicating that over 140 million people are infected with schistosomes [...]Item Editorial: Precision psychiatry from a pharmacogenetics perspective(Frontiers Media S.A.) Brown, Lisa C.; Allen, Josiah D.; Eyre, Harris A.; Baune, Bernhard T.; Aitchison, Katherine J.; Bousman, Chad A.; James A. Baker III Institute for Public PolicyItem Global Vaccinations: New Urgency to Surmount a Triple Threat of Illness, Antiscience, and Anti-SemitismHotez, Peter J.; James A. Baker III Institute for Public PolicyBecause of rising antivaccine activism and some key global policy missteps, we risk eroding more than 70 years of global health gains. This is occurring through an enabled and empowered antiscience ecosystem, with anti-Semitism and the targeting of Jewish biomedical scientists at its core.Item The Economic Effects of Proposed Changes to the Tax Treatment of Capital Gains(James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy) Diamond, John W.; James A. Baker III Institute for Public PolicyIn this paper, we examine the economic effects of enacting a proposal by the Biden Administration to tax long term capital gains at ordinary income tax rates for those with taxable income above $1 million and tax unrealized gains at the time of death (i.e., repealing step up of basis) for single (joint) filers with more than $1 million ($2 million) in unrealized gains. Current economic conditions may exacerbate the problems associated with increasing the taxation of capital gains. In particular, rising inflation would exacerbate the negative economic effects associated with taxing capital gains income at a higher rate as well as repealing step up in basis. It also exacerbates the differential treatment of current and future consumption, that is it discourages saving, that occurs under an income tax. Simulations show that in the long run GDP falls by roughly 0.3 percent, as a result of a decline in the capital stock of roughly 1.0 percent and a decline in total hours worked of 0.1 percent, and aggregate consumption falls by 0.1 percent. Initially hours worked declines by 0.1 percent in a full employment economy; if instead labor hours worked per individual were held constant, this would be roughly equivalent to a loss of approximately 209,000 jobs in that year. Real wages decrease initially by 0.2 percent, by 0.2 percent five years after enactment, and by 0.6 percent in the long run. Higher levels of inflation would exacerbate the negative economic effects of raising capital gains tax rates and repealing step up in basis. Finally, two decades of relatively slow economic growth call for increased innovation and faster diffusion of new technology, but higher capital gains tax rates will reduce innovation and technology diffusion.Item Macroeconomic Effects of the Inflation Reduction ActDiamond, John W.; James A. Baker III Institute for Public PolicyItem Automation Does Not Kill Jobs; It Increases InequalityBrito, Dagobert L.; Curl, Robert F.; James A. Baker III Institute for Public PolicyThe authors have developed a model of the effects of automation upon an economy similar to the U.S. The model predicts that the most important consequence of automation is to lower the real wages of medium-skilled and low-skilled workers. Data covering the period 1984 to 2016 demonstrate, as the model predicts, that the share of these workers in domestic production has steadily, if somewhat noisily declined.Item Minerals & Materials Supply Chains — Considerations for Decarbonizing TransportationFoss, Michelle Michot; James A. Baker III Institute for Public PolicyItem Undocumented Immigrants in Texas: A Cost-Benefit Assessment(James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy) Rodriguez-Sanchez, Jose Ivan; James A. Baker III Institute for Public PolicyItem North America’s Shifting Supply Chains: The UMSCA, COVID-19, and the U.S.-China Trade War(James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy) Gantz, David A.; James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy