Policy Perspective
COGR Joins in Community Letter to USDA on Research Access to Germplasm
The letter, addressed to Director Manjit Misra of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture at the USDA, expresses concerns from leading academic and research organizations regarding the USDA's October 8, 2024 announcement on research access to germplasm developed with federal funds. The organizations interpret the announcement as potentially signaling a move toward mandating unrestricte
COGR Submits Response to NSF's Comment Request: NSF PAPPG (NSF 26-1)
The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), representing over 220 U.S. research institutions, submitted detailed comments to the National Science Foundation (NSF) regarding proposed revisions to the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG 26-1). COGR commends NSF's history of collaborative policy development but expresses concern over certain ambiguities, new compliance
Results from COGR/ARIO Survey of Research Integrity Officials on Final ORI Research Misconduct Rule
The document presents the results of a joint survey conducted by the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) and the Association of Research Integrity Officers (ARIO) between October and November 2024. The survey targeted research integrity officials at institutions responsible for implementing the revised Public Health Service (PHS) Policies on Research Misconduct, following the publication of a
Facilities & Administrative Costs of Research: One Pager
The document emphasizes the essential role of Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs—also known as indirect costs—in supporting federally funded research in the United States. It outlines how F&A reimbursements enable research institutions to maintain necessary infrastructure, comply with regulations, and ensure the safe and effective conduct of innovative research, ultimately benefitin
Letter to President Trump - Incoming Administration
COGR congratulates President Trump on his inauguration and urges his administration to address the growing administrative burden caused by overlapping and inconsistent federal research regulations. The letter highlights that the proliferation of federal requirements—particularly over the past decade—has imposed significant costs and diminished faculty research productivity, potentially jeopardizin
Letter to Incoming Trump Administration Officials
COGR, representing over 230 U.S. research institutions, addresses a letter to federal officials urging action to reduce administrative burdens hindering federally funded research. The organization recommends creating a centralized Research Policy Board and a dedicated leadership position to streamline and harmonize research regulations, advocating for unified regulatory frameworks across agencies,
2025 Administration Transition and Resources
A compilation of resources related to the 2025 Administration Transition.
COGR Submits Comments to Department of Commerce on Ethical Guidelines for Research Using Pervasive Data
COGR, representing over 220 U.S. research institutions, submitted comments to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) regarding the development of ethical guidelines for research using pervasive data. COGR underscores the complexity of the existing regulatory landscape and cautions against NTIA introducing additional guidelines, recommending instead that the Departmen
UPDATED: Summary of Recent Significant Updates to the NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy
This document summarizes significant recent updates to the NIH Genomic Data Sharing (GDS) Policy, focusing on new and stricter cybersecurity requirements and access terms for researchers and developers accessing controlled-access human genomic data in NIH repositories. Effective January 25, 2025, institutions must ensure that IT systems used for accessing or storing genomic data comply with NIST S
F&A Survey Capstone: Cost Reimbursement Rates, Actual Reimbursement, and Growing Regulatory Burden
The COGR 2023 F&A Survey Capstone analyzes data from 120 research institutions to assess trends and challenges in the reimbursement of Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs associated with federally funded research. The report finds that universities are increasingly subsidizing research due to regulatory limits—particularly the 26% cap on administrative cost reimbursement—despite grow
