The October 2010 meeting of the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), detailed in this report, focused on a variety of critical issues affecting research administration at U.S. universities and research institutions. Central topics included costing policies such as Facilities & Administrative (F&A) compliance reform, updates on National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) policies, and responses to ongoing federal audits. Key developments included the release of a COGR advocacy paper calling for greater consistency in federal cost reimbursement guidelines, discussion of the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) report on indirect cost reimbursement, and significant changes to NSF’s approach to voluntary committed cost sharing. The report also provided updates regarding ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) implementation and compliance, as well as ongoing audit activity and evolving reporting requirements.
In research compliance, the report addressed new NSF requirements for data management, responsible conduct of research training, and increased transparency under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA). The meeting also covered challenges related to animal research regulation, with anticipated legislative changes discussed in the context of the upcoming Farm Bill. Efforts to clarify access to and retention of research data, and to address research misconduct policy, were noted. The section on contracts and intellectual property reviewed significant legal cases, including the Supreme Court’s decision to hear Stanford v. Roche and the Justice Department's stance against gene patent eligibility in certain cases. Updates on technology transfer practices, material transfer agreements, and discussions of new regulatory developments from the Department of Defense and other agencies were included, highlighting persistent issues with contract clauses and intellectual property provisions. Overall, the report reflects the complexity and evolving nature of research administration, emphasizing the importance of ongoing advocacy, regulatory engagement, and coordination among stakeholders.
