Comment Letter
COGR Submits Comments to ACURO to Review Policy for Partially DOD-Funded Animal Research
COGR expresses concerns to the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command's Animal Care and Use Review Office (ACURO) regarding a new policy that, effective January 1, 2026, limits ACURO protocol review to only Department of Defense (DOD) fully-funded animal research projects. While recognizing the intent to reduce ACURO’s administrative burden, COGR argues that this directive merely shift…
COGR, AAU, and APLU Submit Joint Comments on BIS Interim Final Rule (RIN 0694-AK11)
COGR, together with AAU and APLU, submitted joint comments to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on its interim final rule, which expands end-user controls to affiliates of certain entities. The associations highlight that the rule, as written, could create substantial and ambiguous compliance burdens for universities and potentially stifle legitimate international research collaborations.
COGR, AAMC, AAU, and APLU Submit Joint Comments to NIH on Publication Cost Limits
The Association of American Medical Colleges, Association of American Universities, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, and COGR submitted joint feedback to the NIH opposing proposed limitations on allowable publishing costs for NIH-funded research, arguing that such limits could impede effective dissemination, create inequities among institutions, and hinder early-career researcher
COGR Joins AAMC-Led Amicus Brief Opposing Federal Stay in NIH Grant Restoration Cases
This document is an amicus curiae brief submitted by major academic and research organizations in support of respondents opposing the U.S. government’s blanket termination of NIH grants, arguing that such mass cancellations depart from long-standing, science-based funding principles vital to the nation’s research enterprise. The brief details how the abrupt, non-scientific cancellation of grants h
COGR Advocates for Full Reinstatement of NIH Grants in Joint Association Letter to Director, Dr. Bhattacharya
The letter, signed by leading higher education associations representing the majority of U.S. biomedical research institutions, urges NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to reinstate all NIH grants terminated under directives recently found unlawful by a federal court. While some grants are being reinstated due to court orders, the associations highlight that many others, terminated under the same d
COGR Submits Comments in Response to DHHS RFI: Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation to Make America Healthy Again
COGR, representing over 230 U.S. research universities and affiliated institutions, submitted detailed feedback to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on streamlining federal research regulations to reduce administrative burden, enhance regulatory consistency, and foster innovation. COGR's letter highlights the need to eliminate duplicative or inconsistent requirements across federa
COGR Submits Letter to EPA on NPRM Regarding Methylene Chloride; Regulation Under the Toxic Substances Control Act; Compliance Date Extensions
COGR, representing over 230 U.S. research institutions, submitted comments to the EPA regarding compliance date extensions for regulations on methylene chloride under TSCA. While supporting the 18-month extension, COGR questions the legal foundation for the underlying regulations, noting that the executive orders justifying them have since been revoked, and highlights that existing OSHA standards
COGR Responds to OPM Proposed Rule on Schedule F Changes
The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), representing over 225 major U.S. research institutions, submitted comments in response to the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) proposed rule aimed at improving performance, accountability, and responsiveness in the civil service. COGR's remarks focus particularly on the aspects of the rule that would potentially reclassify certain federal re
COGR Submits Response to OMB RFI on Deregulation
COGR responded to an Office of Management and Budget Request for Information on regulatory reform, advocating for significant reduction and harmonization of federal research regulations to minimize administrative burden and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of federally funded research. The letter notes widespread duplication, inconsistency, and outdated requirements across federal agencies
