The June 9-10, 2016 COGR Meeting Report provides a thorough overview of key issues and developments affecting research institutions in the areas of research compliance, regulatory reform, costing policies, and contracts and intellectual property. Audit activities continue to focus on compliance with federal requirements, subrecipient monitoring, and accurate reporting of time, effort, and financials, as highlighted in recent NSF and HHS OIG reports. Efforts to reduce regulatory and administrative burdens remain central, with significant recommendations emerging from the National Academies and proposed legislation in Congress, such as creating a Research Policy Board to streamline regulations and harmonize grant requirements across agencies.
In human subjects and animal research, the rollout of the NIH’s Single IRB Policy aims to expedite the initiation of multi-site studies, though implementation details and associated costs are still being clarified. The burgeoning Precision Medicine Initiative and related intellectual property policies also received attention, particularly around the use of Other Transactions Authority and the allocation of rights under the Bayh-Dole Act. In costing policies, ongoing debates about procurement standards, grant closeouts, and equitable treatment for off-campus research centers reflect ongoing complexity in financial compliance. On the contracts and intellectual property front, rule changes in export controls, safeguarding clauses, invention reporting, and the persistent issue of drug pricing and IP rights underscore the intersection of research security, compliance costs, and public access. The report concludes with updates on best practices guides, federal agency policy revisions, and calls for enhanced institutional feedback, illustrating COGR’s commitment to advocacy, regulatory simplification, and supporting research administration across its member institutions.
