The November 2022 COGR Update provides a comprehensive overview of major policy developments, committee activities, and regulatory updates relevant to the research administration and compliance community. Core topics included the ongoing implementation and institutional preparation for the NIH Data Management and Sharing (DMS) policy, with guidance updates and panel discussions addressing readiness and cost impacts. The Update highlights the significant administrative and financial burdens new compliance requirements, such as those for research security disclosures under NSPM-33 and the CHIPS & Science Act, are placing on research institutions, often with disproportionate effects on smaller organizations. Detailed attention is given to efforts to harmonize disclosure forms and reporting standards across federal agencies (NIH, NSF), ongoing advocacy, and surveys to quantify compliance costs.
The report further addresses a range of cross-cutting issues, such as research security provisions, export control rule changes, SBIR/STTR foreign risk management requirements, and the nuanced recommendations of recent NASEM reports on technology protection and fundamental research. It summarizes committee work in areas like research ethics, compliance (including responses to regulatory requests for information on cannabis research, animal care, and research misconduct rules), and the complexities of indirect cost negotiations. Updates on contract and grants administration highlight changes in NSF’s policies, the move toward digital persistent identifiers, and developments surrounding other transactional authorities. Throughout, the Update underscores the ongoing need for federal stakeholder engagement, clarity in policy implementation, and practical support for institutions navigating increasingly complex research compliance landscapes.
