NIH Research Festival
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Concurrent NIH Workshops
The NIH science workshops listed below are in the FAES Classrooms or the NIH Library, Building 10. These workshops will be held across two days, Tuesday Sept. 9, and Wednesday, Sept. 10.
Additionally, the NIH Library has several other activities on Tuesday–Thursday. See the General Schedule of Events.
Workshops, Tuesday, September 9, 2025
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Host: NIH Library
Location: NIH Library
Title: NIH Bioinformatics Community Fair
Workshop Description: Do you want to learn about bioinformatics training activities here at NIH? Join us for our morning session to hear from several intramural NIH Bioinformatics and Data Science Training Groups (BTEP, Biowulf, CBIIT, GenAI CoP) who will describe their training programs and educational activities. Then, in the afternoon, we’ll host several speakers from the NIH AI Community who will demonstrate how AI can be used in biomedical research (GeneAgent, SCassist, image pathology). We’ll also hear from the single cell and spatial transcriptomics community and the NIH Artificial Intelligence Group. See full Bioinformatics Community Fair program: https://www.nihlibrary.nih.gov/nih-rf-2025
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Host: NIH Religion, Spirituality, and Health Scientific Interest Group
Location: FAES Classroom #1 (with remote option)
Title: The NIH Religion, Spirituality, and Health Scientific Interest Group (RSH-SIG)
Workshop Description: The RSH-SIG began at the NIH over five years ago and has garnered interest from within and outside of the NIH. Our RSH-SIG website (https://oir.nih.gov/sigs/religion-spirituality-health-scientific-intere…) showcases our mission, purpose, aims, objectives, current activities, and links to the many of the talks we have hosted. Our workshop will provide an overview for the purpose and importance of the RSH-SIG, as well as researchers and research institutions conducting research on the intersection of religion, spirituality, and health. We will also share information on how people can join our interest group and become an active member in its activities. This will be offered as a hybrid event within person and virtual attendance.
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Host: TGF-Beta Scientific Interest Group
Location: FAES Classroom #2
Title: TGF-b Signaling in Development, Homeostasis, and Disease.
Workshop Description: TGF-b was discovered on the NIH campus almost fifty years ago. Since then, there have been many advances into its role in regulating myriad cellular processes intrinsic to development and disease. This workshop will introduce ongoing intramural research into TGF-b super family signaling with the aim of expanding the repertoire of the collaborative interactions amongst cross-cutting research programs.
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Host: Reverse Phenotyping Core
Location: FAES Classroom #1 (with remote option)
Title: Phenotyping Core: Genotype-first Clinical Research Workshop
Workshop Description: The Reverse Phenotyping Core (RPC) will guide attendees through designing their own genotype-first clinical research project. This session applies to clinical researchers seeking to recruit participants or basic scientists looking to test their hypotheses using human samples or data. We will explore the RPC genome browser, which contains exome and genome sequencing data for nearly 16,000,000 participants, to identify variants of interest for each investigator's study. We will discuss how RPC can facilitate participant recontact to test gene-disease associations by performing clinical exams or sample collection under RPC’s protocol or by referring participants to an investigator’s IRP protocol. We will walk through an example then help investigators create their own reverse phenotyping study.
Meeting ID: 255 068 153 522 5
Passcode: BP7o4oz7
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Host: Health Disparities Interest Group
Location: FAES Classroom #2 (with remote option)
Title: Health in Rural America: Challenges and Opportunities
Workshop Description: Individuals living in rural America face significant challenges in achieving optimal health. This workshop will discuss the health challenges related to oral health, drug use, and other health outcomes. It will also explore potential solutions to improve rural health. Through presentations and discussions, the workshop aims to inspire researchers to develop evidence-based strategies to reduce disparities and improve health outcomes in underserved rural areas.
Registration Link: https://forms.office.com/g/nakq1h4nmu
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Host: The Ombuds Office
Location: FAES Classroom #1 (with remote option)
Title: Better Feedback, Better Science: Strategies for Effective Exchanges in a Research Environment
Workshop Description: Has defensiveness ever derailed your conversation? In science, feedback is essential, but not always easy to give or receive. This interactive session explores how to deliver feedback in a research environment, and how to stay open when you're on the receiving end. Through real-world examples, participants will learn strategies to use feedback as a tool for growth and improved outcomes, rather than allowing it to become a source of conflict.
Workshops, Wednesday, September 10, 2025
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Location: NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health
Location: FAES Classroom #1 (with remote option)
Title: Innovative, Interdiciplinary Research in Women's Midlife Health
Workshop Description: In 2025, the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) launched a call for interdisciplinary, cross-institute research proposals focusing on women's midlife health. With support from the Deputy Director of Intramural Research and the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, ORWH funded five teams spanning eight NIH intramural programs. We invite you to an exciting workshop where awarded investigators will present their groundbreaking projects. Topics will include the impacts of menopause on brain aging and the gut microbiome, the influence of environmental factors on hot flashes, immune-adipose dysfunction, and the relationship between slow wave sleep and blood pressure. Don't miss this unique opportunity to delve into innovative research and explore potential therapeutic targets aimed at enhancing women's health during midlife.
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Host: All of Us and NHGRI Cohort Analytics Core
Location: FAES Classroom #2
Title: Exploring Use Cases for the All of Us Research Program with the Cohort Analytics Core
Workshop Description: The All of Us Research Program is a groundbreaking, longitudinal initiative aimed at collecting and analyzing data from at least one million individuals across the United States. The program's objective is to accelerate health research discoveries and pave the way for personalized healthcare. The information our participants generously share is fueling thousands of studies to better understand health and disease and enable more tailored and equitable approaches to care.
Within the All of Us Curated Data Repository, there is data on over 600,00 participants, including over 450,000 with phenotypic information primarily derived from electronic health records (EHR) linked to genomic short-read sequencing data. Additionally, an increasing number of survey responses, Fitbit data, genomic long-read sequencing, and structural variant data have become available to researchers.
The Cohort Analytics Core (CAC) at NHGRI leverages large-scale cohorts like All of Us to develop computable phenotypes for diseases, drug effects, and other health conditions. The CAC also conducts genome-wide and phenome-wide association studies (GWAS and PheWAS). This workshop aims to provide a platform for our collaborators to showcase their projects related to All of Us, discuss troubleshooting techniques, and explore new opportunities for research.
Join us for this insightful workshop to learn more about the All of Us Research Program and discover how the Cohort Analytics Core can enhance your research endeavors.
Registration Link: https://forms.office.com/g/QbS41pmf3T
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Host: Consciousness Research Interest Group
Location: FAES Classroom #6 (with remote option)
Title: Perception in the Primate Brain
Workshop Description: This workshop explores research on perception in both the healthy and impaired primate brain. Presentations will focus on the neural mechanisms that underlie how primates perceive and interpret the world around them. By examining both normal perceptual function and disruptions caused by injury or disease, the workshop aims to deepen our understanding for the biological sources of perception. Insights gained from this research may inform future strategies for diagnosing, managing, and treating perceptual disorders in humans.
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Host: Rare Disease Informatics Scientific Interest Group
Location: FAES Classroom #3&4 (with remote option)
Title: AI-Driven Strategy Advancing Rare Disease Research
Workshop Description: The Rare Disease Informatics Scientific Interest Group (RDI-SIG) workshop will foster NIH-wide discussion on cutting-edge developments in rare disease informatics. Through a series of lightning talks and interactive roundtable discussions, we will explore key challenges and potential solutions in the following areas:
- The biomedical applications of AI in
- drug repurposing
- clinical decision support (CDS)
- Standardization and harmonization of data
- The role of large language models (LLMs) in RDI
- Collaboration across consortia and NIH programs
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/XTEdQYnhtXFfj5f28(external link)
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Host: The Ombuds Office
Location: FAES Classroom #2 (with remote option)
Title: From Disagreement to Discovery: Navigating Conflict in Science
Workshop Description: Disagreement is a natural—and often essential—part of scientific progress. However, when not handled well, it can disrupt discovery and hinder innovation. In this interactive session, we will explore practical approaches for engaging with scientific disagreement. Using real-world examples, we’ll discuss how you can distinguish healthy scientific debate from interpersonal conflict, and how you can cultivate a research environment that embraces different perspectives contributing to stronger, more robust science.
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Host: NIAID ClinRegs
Location: FAES Classroom #6 (with remote option)
Title: NIAID ClinRegs: An Online Resource to Support Regulatory Compliance in International Clinical Research
Workshop Description: This workshop will provide an overview of the NIAID ClinRegs website, including a live demonstration highlighting site functionality. Participants will leave the workshop with an understanding of the information NIAID ClinRegs provides, how it is maintained, how to navigate it, and how it can benefit their research. There will be ample time for questions, and participants are encouraged to share thoughts on ways that NIAID ClinRegs can be improved to meet their research needs.
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Host: Patent Law & Technology Transfer Interest Group
Location: FAES Classroom #3&4
Title: From Postdoc to Paycheck
Workshop Description: Transitioning from a federal lab research position to a career with industry is never easy but is one you can accomplish with the right preparation and mindset. In this session we'll hear from former NIH intramural scientists who will tell their stories of how they made their transition from being a trainee to getting their first job after their post-doc or other fellowship. Advanced registration not needed. In-person event only.
To join the SIG, link to Patent Law & Technology Transfer Interest Group Listserv.
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Host: NIH Laboratory Managers Working Group
Location: FAES Classroom #1 (with remote option)
Title: Free Stuff & the NIH Laboratory Managers Working Group
Workshop Description: First half: What is the NIH Free Stuff Website and how can I use it and benefit from it? Do you have stuff in your lab or office that was government purchased but you no longer need but don’t want to throw away? Do you have a tight budget and would love to get some stuff for free? If you can answer yes to either of these questions and have never used the NIH Free Stuff Website, then this workshop is one you want to attend.
Second Half: NIH Laboratory Managers Working Group. Do you want to connect with other researchers? Let us help you keep up to date on safety, purchasing, special topics of interest and much more. Join us to find out more about the group.
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Host: Pharmacogenetics Interest Group
Location: FAES Classroom #6 (with remote option)
Title: Future State of the Pharmacogenetics Interest Group
Workshop Description: An open discussion on an ideal future state for our interest group interspersed with short talks focused on ongoing projects across NIH
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Host: NCBI
Location: FAES Classroom #1 (with remote option)
Title: Hands-On Workshop - Practical Strategies for Using SRA Lite and Cloud-Optimized Data Formats
Workshop Description: As sequencing datasets continue to expand, researchers face new challenges in efficiently storing, transferring, and analyzing large-scale genomic data. The NIH Sequence Read Archive is the largest archive for next-gen sequence data that is hosted by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and managed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
This hands-on workshop, led by SRA subject matter experts at NCBI, will provide both newcomers and experienced users with practical strategies to locate and retrieve relevant SRA Lite and other cloud-optimized data formats for their genomic analyses and research workflows. Participants will learn:
- How to navigate SRA, search for data, and integrate SRA data into a workflow
- Identify the various file formats that SRA supports and demystify SRA Lite
- Tradeoffs and real-world performance insights from human genetics, RNA-seq, and pathogen surveillance case studies
- Practice with hands-on exercises
This interactive session aims to empower researchers and institutional submitters to make informed choices about data formats and management, ultimately supporting more sustainable and accessible genomics research.
Registration Link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=eHW3FHOX1UKFByUcotwrBvs4JNOSw5BIrPQownezh_tURUZLQU5ISU8zUFhOWkpTOVZPUDRMSDJBSi4u&route=shorturl
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Host: The Ombuds Office, OIR and OITE
Location: FAES Classroom #2 (with remote option)
Title: Informal Authorship Negotiations: Navigating Disputes with Skill and Diplomacy
Presenters: Sharon Milgram (OITE), Victor Voloshin (Ombuds), Kathy Partin (AIRIO)
Workshop Description: Publications are considered a critical measure of scholarly success in academia. Authorship on scientific publications can be a contentious issue, especially with the increase in interdisciplinary collaborative research. Disagreements can arise regarding inclusion as an author or the order of authorship on scientific presentations and manuscripts. In this interactive session, we will discuss how to skillfully navigate informal discussions about authorship while addressing the concerns of power imbalance between junior and senior researchers, using real world examples. We will provide resources and tools that can be used to address authorship concerns at the early stages, to facilitate amicable resolutions without having to initiate the formal authorship conflict resolution process. This is a joint workshop with the Office of Intramural Training & Education, the Ombuds, and the Research Integrity Office.
Hybrid Link: No registration required. https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ODI1MDM0MjktMThjZS00MmI5LTk5MTQtMTE5NjA1ZmJmNjZl%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2214b77578-9773-42d5-8507-251ca2dc2b06%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2251cf8617-6dba-4469-9112-37c8ad127a17%22%7d
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Host: NCBI
Location: FAES Classroom #3&4
Title: Using the NCBI Toolkit to power comparative genomics
Workshop Description: The NIH Comparative Genomics Resource (CGR) maximizes the impact of eukaryotic research organisms and their genomic data to biomedical research. CGR facilitates reliable comparative genomics with an NCBI genomics toolkit including high-quality data, tools, and interfaces for connecting community-provided resources with NCBI. This workshop will give an overview of CGR, and guided demos of web and command-line interfaces for advanced comparative genomics analyses. Bring your questions for the NCBI team, and your laptop to follow along.
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Host: Asian American Pacific Islander Health Scientific Interest Group
Location: FAES Classroom #6 (with remote option)
Title: AANHPI Health Research for Advancing NIH Mission
Workshop Description: The purpose of this workshop in the format of panel presentation and discussion is to discuss Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) health research to advance NIH and HHS priorities and missions by addressing current states and identifying future opportunities in research approaches and technologies. The main research themes include “Alternative Research Models” (NIH priorities and technologies) and “Chronic Diseases Human Research” (genetic and environmental factors, lifestyle and non-pharmacological complementary and integrative oncology, and NIH All of Us resource). The speakers/panelists are the leading scientists and physician scientists from NIH and academics. Organized by NIH AANHPI-HSIG:, https://oir.nih.gov/sigs/asian-american-pacific-islander-health-scientific-interest-group.
Registration Link: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
This page was last updated on Wednesday, September 3, 2025