The September 2018 Update from the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) provides a detailed overview of key policy developments, legislative changes, compliance issues, and regulatory updates affecting research institutions and universities. The report covers a broad spectrum of topics including Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs, recent modifications to audit guidelines, and ongoing issues with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Compliance Supplement, particularly concerning payment and reimbursement regulations and student information security. The update highlights recent federal legislative activities, notably the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which introduces new science and security requirements—such as restrictions on technology transfers, foreign involvement, and Confucius Institutes—while also enacting a new Export Controls Reform Act and expanding the Entity List for export restrictions, particularly affecting China. COGR summarizes collaborative actions undertaken with other higher education associations in response to federal agencies’ requests for information, government rulemaking, and guidance, with emphasis on maintaining compliance, safeguarding innovation, and streamlining administrative burden.
Further, the report addresses significant regulatory and policy discussions around research involving human participants, including NIH’s efforts to clarify clinical trial definitions and registration requirements, emerging issues in gene therapy oversight, and recommendations from the National Academies regarding the return of individual research results to participants. COGR also comments on high-level hearings and policy dialogues focusing on research integrity, stewardship, and the impact of foreign influence on federally funded research. Additional sections review recent audit findings from federal agencies, evolving approaches to subaward structures in NIH-funded research, expanding regulatory frameworks for controlled substances in research, and ongoing advocacy concerning intellectual property, technology transfer, and transparency mandates like the Stevens Amendment. Through these updates, COGR reinforces its role in monitoring, interpreting, and responding to the evolving federal landscape, ensuring that member institutions are informed and actively engaged on compliance, research advancement, and policy reform.
