The October 2018 update from the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) presents a comprehensive overview of key regulatory, compliance, and policy developments affecting the U.S. research community. Major topics include ongoing work on Facilities and Administrative (F&A) cost policies, notably the development of a white paper to enhance transparency and advocacy. Updates are provided on federal audit and compliance issues, including new rules from FASB impacting not-for-profits, unresolved matters around payment and reimbursement under federal regulations, and persistent concerns related to student information security and student financial aid audits. The document reports on the release of the 2018 Compliance Supplement by OMB and recent audits and settlements involving several universities.
COGR also addresses important policy changes and discussions in areas such as research integrity and responsibility, including the National Science Foundation’s new terms regarding sexual harassment in science, as well as updates on human subjects and animal research compliance, notably in response to evolving federal rules and the harmonization of FDA and Common Rule requirements. The report covers comments on proposed revisions to NIH research guidelines, new NIH training resources, and ongoing efforts to ensure appropriate classification and reporting for basic science studies involving human participants. National security topics feature prominently, with insights into federal agency concerns about foreign influence on U.S. research, developments regarding controlled unclassified information (CUI), patent procedures, and recent legislative activity such as the SUCCESS Act. Additional sections review university cost audits, the strengthening of research rigor and reproducibility, and commentary on the ongoing debate surrounding the Bayh-Dole Act and the commercialization of university research. Throughout, the update underscores COGR’s advocacy, collaboration with peer associations, and commitment to informing and supporting its membership amid a shifting governmental and regulatory landscape.
