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Biotechnology

Stem cell research, biodiversity, and genetically modified foods are just three facets of biotechnology that pose challenging policy questions. RAND biotechnology research has assessed the role of the U.S. National Bioethics Advisory Commission, explored the global technology revolution, examined pharmaceutical innovation, and studied health and medical research in several Western countries.

Commentary
Brain and Machine Confluence Requires Multi-Sectoral Regulation to Maximize Gains
As the commercialization of brain-computer interface technology expands, it would be prudent for international policymakers to consider how this technology should be regulated, in order to reap its benefits and minimize its risks.
Feb 15, 2023
Commentary
Digital Health Products Miss a Massive and Crucial Piece of a Person's Health
Our health is heavily influenced by our surroundings—including the health of the people around us. For digital health companies to credibly claim to improve people's health, their next step could be an increased willingness to look beyond an individualized notion of health and to work with public health agencies.
Dec 27, 2022
Commentary
Biotechnology and Today's Warfighter
Biotechnology has a broad and often misunderstood scope, one with significant implications for today's warfighter, and it may be reaching a critical junction. As it continues to mature, proactive policy becomes necessary for the federal government to leverage emerging capabilities effectively and remain competitive.
Oct 25, 2022
Journal Article
Digital Technologies for Key Public Health Functions: Results of an ECDC Expert Consultation, May/June 2021
In 2019, the ECDC initiated a project to assess the impact of technical advances on its key functions. The results will serve as a source of information for ECDC and its stakeholders to prepare for and benefit from advances to improve disease surveillance, prevention and control.
Jun 1, 2022
Journal Article
Digital Technologies for the Surveillance, Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases: A Scoping Review of the Research Literature, 2015–2019
The objective of this review is to obtain an estimate of the size and nature of the literature available on digital technologies with the potential to benefit or disrupt public health functions, focusing on infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control.
Jun 1, 2022
Periodical
RAND Review: November-December 2020
Features explore the challenge of delivering effective treatments for veterans with co-occuring disorders; teachers, students, and the importance of civic responsibility in present-day America; and teaching and learning in the age of COVID-19.
Nov 16, 2020
Blog
'Internet of Bodies,' COVID-19 as a Preexisting Condition, Preventive Health Care: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the potential risks and benefits of the 'Internet of Bodies,' what might happen if the ACA is struck down and COVID-19 is considered a preexisting condition, a drop in the use of preventive care, and more.
Nov 6, 2020
Article
The Internet of Bodies Will Change Everything, for Better or Worse
The rise of devices that connect the human body to the web is accelerating rapidly. This Internet of Bodies could revolutionize health care and improve our quality of life. But without appropriate guardrails, it could also jeopardize our most intimate personal information and introduce several ethical concerns.
Oct 29, 2020
Multimedia
What Is the Internet of Bodies?
RAND mathematician Mary Lee examines technologies that make up the Internet of Bodies (IoB); explores their benefits, risks, and ethical implications; surveys the regulatory landscape; and makes recommendations to balance IoB risks and rewards.
Oct 29, 2020
Blog
Voting in a Pandemic, the U.S. Postal Service, Defunding the Police: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on Americans' views about voting in the age of COVID-19, what makes the U.S. Postal Service so essential, why some in law enforcement may be open to “defunding the police,” and more.
Aug 28, 2020
Article
Brain-Computer Interfaces Are Coming. Will We Be Ready?
Brain-computer interfaces give humans the ability to directly control machines with their minds. Before this emerging technology matures, it's important for developers to weigh the opportunities against the risks.
Aug 27, 2020
Report
Brain-Computer Interfaces: An Initial Assessment
Brain-computer interfaces allow humans to communicate directly with machines. This technology may eventually be used to monitor a soldier's cognitive workload, control a drone swarm, or link with a prosthetic. But potential risks should be considered before the technology is widely deployed.
Aug 27, 2020
Report
Neurological Effects of Repeated Exposure to Military Occupational Levels of Blast: A Review of Scientific Literature
There is increasing concern over the common, repetitive forms of blast to which military members are exposed during service, and how those exposures could affect the central nervous system. The authors of this report review the relevant literature.
Mar 18, 2020
Report
Assessing the Need for and Uses of Sequences of Interest Databases: A Report on the Proceedings of a Two-Day Workshop
This report details the proceedings of a Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center workshop in which experts considered how a genetic database of "sequences of interest" could best support stakeholders to improve biotechnology research efforts.
Mar 21, 2019
Report
Evidence synthesis on measuring the distribution of benefits of research and innovation
There are numerous benefits from R&I that are not well captured by current economic approaches. Investing in evaluation and methodological development could help develop a more holistic perspective on the benefits of R&I in the UK.
Dec 14, 2018
Report
Evidence synthesis on the conditions needed to translate research and drive innovation
A number of conditions, and their interaction, are essential to the translation and innovation process across sectors. Policy interventions can support innovation but evidence of their effectiveness is currently limited.
Dec 14, 2018
Report
Developing standards to support the synthetic biology value chain
A study identifying the impact that adoption of synthetic biology is likely to have on the global marketplace as well as any existing barriers or obstacles preventing the rapid scale-up and commercialisation of the technology.
Sep 11, 2017
Commentary
Can the Bioweapons Convention Survive Crispr?
Crispr is a biotechnology that's making genetic editing easier, cheaper, and far more accessible, but it has also been called a major security threat. Do such advances in biotechnology make the bioweapons convention obsolete?
Jul 29, 2016
Dissertation
Exploring Sources of Innovation in the Knowledge-Based Economy: The Case of Los Angeles
Uses a mix of both quantitative and qualitative methods to help policy makers identify sources of innovation in the knowledge-based economy and to best leverage these sources for regional economic growth.
Jul 15, 2016
Commentary
How to Handle the Infectious Diseases Threat
The reactive approach to emerging infectious disease should be augmented with an anticipatory model that accounts for the dramatic changes occurring through globalization, greater interactions between human and zoonotic populations, and changes to the environment and climate patterns.
Jun 3, 2016

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Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Timothy Marler

Senior Research Engineer

Timothy Marler is a senior research engineer at the RAND Corporation and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. His work revolves around emerging technology and science-and-technology policy, with a focus on multi-objective optimization, human modeling and simulation, advanced training…
Alicia Revitsky Locker

Associate Physical Scientist

Alicia Locker is a behavioral neuroscientist at the RAND Corporation. Locker’s interests include health and mental health in active military service members and veteran populations, retention and resiliency in service members, caregiver support, military readiness, social isolation and…

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