A new Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) special feature highlights the critical role of behavioral and decision sciences in U.S. governance. The publications demonstrate how psychological and economic research protect public health, consumer rights, and finances across government agencies including the FTC, SEC, and FDA. Case studies show how "invisible" scientific frameworks streamline medical drug reviews, combat digital deception, and model public health crises like the opioid epidemic, calling for stronger long-term ties between academic institutions and public policy.
Science in service: Behavioral research applications across federal agencies
The feature's introduction is co-authored by Alycia Chin (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) and Baruch Fischhoff (Carnegie Mellon University, Engineering and Public Policy; Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology). It highlights how behavioral scientists embedded in federal agencies bridge the gaps between rational models and human behavior, helping citizens confidently navigate critical financial, medical, and consumer protections. The articles in this collection demonstrate how behavioral scientists within U.S. federal agencies directly empower government missions, creating a quiet but profound impact on the daily lives of Americans.
Applied behavioral and decision sciences in support of U.S. FDA's drug regulatory mission
A prominent case study within the feature examines how these scientific frameworks have supported the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) regulatory mission. Co-authored by Sara L. Eggers (former FDA Director, Decision Support and Analysis Staff), Tamar Krishnamurti (Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine), and Baruch Fischhoff, the paper details four interrelated cases: a) the creation of the Benefit–Risk Framework to guide regulatory decisions regarding new drug approvals; b) the launch of an internal decision support service to facilitate specific regulatory decisions; c) the implementation of the Patient-Focused Drug Development initiative to strengthen the use of patient input to inform regulatory decision-making; and d) the development of FDA SOURCE, a dynamic systems simulation model to assess potential strategies to address the US opioid overdose crisis. These cases demonstrate how behavioral and decision science support better outcomes and offer a model for other regulatory agencies responsible for difficult decisions.
