The June 2015 Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) meeting agenda outlines a comprehensive program addressing key issues at the intersection of academic research and federal policy. Scheduled for June 4-5, 2015, in Washington, D.C., the meeting features sessions focused on current legislative and regulatory developments impacting research institutions. Topics include legislative proposals on patent reform, the transition to NIH subaccounting, challenges of cloud computing in accounting, the oversight of dual use research and gain-of-function studies, and animal research policy developments. Additional panels will discuss significant legislative updates, including the GRANT Act, America COMPETES, 21st Century Cures, and progress on the implementation of the DATA Act.
The agenda also emphasizes the rising concern over the costs and complexities of regulatory compliance, highlighting findings from recent national surveys, case studies, and the development of institutional toolkits. Special attention is given to the ongoing implementation of Uniform Guidance, with discussions centered on compensation, documentation, effort reporting, procurement, cost sharing, and F&A (facilities and administrative costs). The meeting is designed to provide a forum for leadership from research universities, association representatives, and government officials to exchange perspectives and strategies, reinforcing COGR’s role as a nexus for addressing regulatory and legislative challenges in research administration. Attendance is limited to members of COGR-affiliated institutions.
