The COGR 2020-2022 Biennial Year in Review offers a comprehensive overview of the major activities, initiatives, and accomplishments of the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), which represents 200 leading research institutions. Over this two-year period, COGR focused on key policy areas including research security, navigating the impacts of COVID-19, and implementation of the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy. On research security, COGR played an active advocacy role, working closely with federal agencies such as OSTP, NIH, NSF, and DARPA to address disclosure requirements, enforcement changes, and best practices in response to concerns over foreign influence and conflicts of interest in federally funded research. COGR engaged members through webinars, reports, and benchmarking surveys, especially as new compliance and disclosure regulations emerged.
In response to the pandemic, COGR assisted institutions in adjusting to remote work, maintaining research continuity, and interpreting shifting government guidance. Resources provided included impact studies, FAQs, and strategic roadmaps for research ramp-up. The association also spearheaded efforts to assist members in adopting new NIH data management requirements by convening a dedicated workgroup, releasing guidance materials, and conducting surveys to assess administrative impact. Additional organizational improvements included launching a member portal, updating the website, expanding volunteer engagement processes, and welcoming thirteen new institutional members despite broader trends of membership decline. Throughout the reporting period, COGR responded to over 50 regulatory proposals, advocated for reduced administrative burden, and provided extensive resources and regular communications to support its members in managing the complex regulatory landscape governing federally funded research.
