The June 2012 Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) meeting, scheduled for June 7-8 at the Washington Marriott Hotel, is a professional gathering for representatives of member universities and their affiliates focusing on key issues in research administration and compliance. The agenda encompasses a variety of timely topics, beginning with concurrent sessions on federal financial reporting and post-award management burdens, the growing complexity of Materials Transfer Agreements (MTAs), and the implementation challenges related to new NIH regulations on financial conflicts of interest. These sessions aim to identify effective institutional practices, address administrative burdens, and discuss pending federal legislation and policy changes impacting research administration.
The meeting also includes a plenary session by Tom Kalil of the White House OSTP on the Grand Challenges initiative and its alignment with federal innovation strategies, followed by a dedicated panel on managing dual-use research of concern (DURC) in light of new government policies. Another significant session addresses the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) and its pilot program with pharmaceutical partners to explore new therapeutic uses for existing drugs, highlighting both opportunities and regulatory complexities. The second day features committee reports on research compliance, intellectual property, and costing policies, along with open discussions prompted by member-submitted questions. Overall, the meeting is structured to blend expert presentations, policy discussions, and interactive forums, fostering knowledge exchange and advocacy for sound federal research policy among COGR’s member institutions.
