The June 2013 Meeting Report from the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) presents a detailed account of discussions and developments related to governmental policies affecting research institutions, particularly in areas of costing and compliance. Key issues addressed in the Costing Policies section include ongoing changes in NIH fiscal policy in light of federal budget sequestration, the transition to subaccounting for grant payment requests, and the implementation of stricter grant close-out requirements due to congressional concerns about expired funds. The report also highlights COGR's comprehensive response to proposed OMB guidance on federal grant administration, which involved significant contributions from workgroups across member institutions. In addition, the report covers evolving federal guidance for service centers, audit updates emphasizing the use of data analytics by NSF, and challenges related to indirect cost reimbursements and ARRA program spending. COGR’s advocacy efforts continue to focus on supporting research institutions in navigating these regulatory changes while minimizing administrative burden.
In the Contracts and Intellectual Property section, the Supreme Court's landmark decision invalidating certain gene patents held by Myriad Genetics is discussed, with broader implications for patent policy and university research. Legislative updates include ongoing patent reform debates aimed at curbing frivolous litigation and clarifying the distinction between patent assertion entities and research institutions. The report also covers White House initiatives on patent trolls, federal efforts to improve commercialization of research findings ("Lab to Market" summit), and significant export control reforms affecting satellite technologies. On research compliance, the report details NASA restrictions on bilateral activities with China, federal procurement policies regarding IT systems, and continued concern over investigator administrative burden, conflicts of interest, and federal reporting requirements. Updates include NSF’s revision of proposal procedures, NIH's review of conflict of interest policies, and new Supreme Court guidance on the unconstitutionality of anti-prostitution provisions in federal grants. Overall, the report reflects COGR's ongoing engagement with federal agencies to represent the interests of research institutions, promote regulatory clarity, and advocate for policy adjustments that balance accountability with operational viability.
