S. 2406 – ACE Research Act

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 8:14 PM UTC

The Advancing Cutting‑Edge Research (ACE) Act expands the National Institutes of Health’s ability to fund innovative, high‑impact research. It adds a new category of research that focuses on scientific creativity, fundamental biological understanding, and work needed to prevent, diagnose, treat disease, or address urgent public‑health threats. The change modifies the Public Health Service Act and primarily affects NIH funding decisions and researchers applying for grants.

Key Provisions

Amends the Public Health Service Act to add a new subparagraph (C) that defines “high impact cutting‑edge research” as work that fosters scientific creativity, deepens basic biological knowledge, and leads to disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or rapid response to public‑health emergencies.
Makes minor punctuation edits to existing subparagraphs (A) and (B) to accommodate the new language.

Legislative Activity

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

February 8, 2018

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 8, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

February 8, 2018

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued February 8, 2018

II

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2406

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 8, 2018

Mr. Alexander (for himself, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Young, and Ms. Hassan) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To advance cutting-edge research initiatives of the National Institutes of Health.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Advancing Cutting-Edge Research Act or the ACE Research Act.

2.

Advancing cutting-edge research

Section 402(n)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 282(n)(1)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (A), by striking or;

(2)

in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and inserting ; or; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(C)

high impact cutting-edge research that fosters scientific creativity and increases fundamental biological understanding leading to the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of diseases and disorders, or research urgently required to respond to a public health threat.

.