The September 2020 Update from the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) provides a broad overview of recent developments affecting research institutions, particularly with respect to federal regulation and ongoing responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Key announcements include the upcoming virtual October COGR meeting and major updates in federal grant guidelines, such as the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) revised 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance, effective November 2020. COGR’s workgroups are actively reviewing these changes, noting some improvements but expressing concern over elements not addressed by OMB. COVID-19’s impact on research remains significant, with updated federal memoranda, NIH and FDA guidance, and ongoing survey projects reflecting the dramatic operational and financial disruptions faced by research institutions. The organization has provided resources, analysis, and advocacy on issues ranging from research output loss to institutional cost challenges under the "pandemic normal."
Additionally, the report highlights escalating issues of science and research security, including new legislative and regulatory measures targeting foreign influence, compliance with reporting on foreign funds, prohibitions related to telecommunication equipment, and cybersecurity initiatives such as the DOD's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. The document addresses developments in intellectual property—including the Bayh-Dole Act’s 40th anniversary, discussions on march-in rights with respect to COVID-19 therapeutics, and the progression of the NIST ROI Green Paper. Detailed updates are provided on compliance topics such as F&A cost rate proposals, inventory requirements, and changes in federal financial reporting processes. The report further discusses revised animal welfare oversight policies, new guidance for human subjects research, implications for contracts and grants management—including cannabis research, and other regulatory adjustments. Throughout, COGR emphasizes continued engagement with federal agencies and other associations to address both immediate regulatory challenges and the strategic needs of its research constituency.
