The document outlines the current focus areas and activities of the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) as of August 17, 2015, categorized under four main committees: Contracts and Intellectual Property, Costing Policies, Research Compliance and Administration, and Research and Regulatory Reform. The Contracts and Intellectual Property Committee addresses issues related to compliance with the Bayh-Dole Act, intellectual property management, patent reform, university-industry relations, copyright, material transfer agreements, export controls, and challenges posed by contract clauses, among other topics. The Costing Policies Committee focuses on matters including financial accounting, cost accounting standards, facilities and administrative (F&A) rates, project closeout, audits, procurement, cost sharing, and compensation policies.
The Research Compliance and Administration Committee manages compliance with federal award requirements, electronic grant administration, subrecipient monitoring, open access, dual use research, scientific misconduct, and agency compliance reviews, as well as environmental health and safety standards. The Research and Regulatory Reform Committee is engaged with legislative and regulatory bodies—such as the National Academies, NIH, Senate committees, and OMB—on broader regulatory reforms and policies affecting human subjects protection, animal welfare, and conflicts of interest. Collectively, these committees address an extensive range of issues critical to academic and research institutions, aiming to ensure compliance, effective policy implementation, and constructive engagement with regulatory developments.
