FASEB Statement on Importance of Global Collaborations

Posted: August 15, 2019

The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) reaffirms the importance of and its support for international scholars to furthering discovery and innovation in the life sciences. Nearly 20 percent of the 130,000 individual scientists represented by our 29 member societies are of non-U.S. origin. As a result of continued federal investments in science and technology, the U.S. is recognized as the leading nation in these fields, attracting scientists from around the world to train and work in a broad range of research environments. International collaborations have played critical roles in numerous biological research endeavors, ranging from deciphering the human genome to stemming the spread of infectious diseases such as Ebola and Zika virus.

FASEB also recognizes the delicate balance between fostering an environment of open scientific collaboration and protecting U.S. investments and discoveries. Therefore, we welcome the opportunity to work with the leadership of federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Energy, as well as interested stakeholders in the research community, to develop and communicate policies that confirm appropriate utilization of critical resources and outputs and discoveries gained from those resources to ensure continued engagement of international scholars in research endeavors.

Approved by FASEB Board of Directors, August 6, 2019