Category: Research policies

Research policies

01/12/10

New NIH AREA Program Announcement Released

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has published new guidelines for the Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) program. AREA awards support small-scale health-related research projects proposed by faculty members otherwise unlikely to participate extensively in NIH programs. The AREA program is a research grant program, not a training grant or fellowship program. However, the active involvement of undergraduate (preferred) and graduate students in the proposed research is highly encouraged, and reviewers will consider whether a project will expose students to meritorious research. Applications are due by February 25, June 25, and October 25 annually.

The new guidelines include several changes:

  • The maximum award has increased to $300,000 in total direct costs over three years.
  • The eligibility threshold has increased to campuses that have received no more than $6 million per year (in both direct and F&A/indirect costs) in each of four or more of the last seven years.
  • The Research Strategy section may not exceed 12 pages, including tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts.
  • Applicants requesting more than $250,000 in annual direct costs must complete and submit budget requests using the Research & Related Budget component

Applicants are strongly advised to review the AREA program website and direct questions to one of the AREA program representatives listed. NIH applications undergo two steps of review: peer review and institute/center (IC) review. While peer reviewers evaluate an application, the IC funds it, so early program officer contact is an important factor in application development, especially where a new program announcement is concerned.

12/15/09

Initiative from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)

The Obama Administration is seeking public input on policies concerning access to publicly funded research results, such as those that appear in academic and scholarly journal articles. Currently, the National Institutes of Health require that research funded by its grants be made available to the public online at no charge within 12 months of publication. The Administration is seeking views as to whether this policy should be extended to other science agencies and, if so, how it should be implemented.
 
The Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President and the White House Open Government Initiative is launching a “Public Access Policy Forum” to invite public participation in thinking through what the Federal government’s policy should be with regard to public access to published federally funded research results. To that end, OSTP will conduct an interactive, online discussion beginning Thursday, December 10. The discussion will focus on three major areas of interest:
 
• Implementation (Dec. 10 to 20): Which Federal agencies are good candidates to adopt Public Access policies? What variables (field of science, proportion of research funded by public or private entities, etc.) should affect how public access is implemented at various agencies, including the maximum length of time between publication and public release?

• Features and Technology (Dec. 21 to Dec 31): In what format should the data be submitted in order to make it easy to search and retrieve information, and to make it easy  for others to link to it? Are there existing digital standards for archiving and interoperability to maximize public benefit? How are these anticipated to change?

• Management (Jan. 1 to Jan. 7): What are the best mechanisms to ensure compliance? What would be the best metrics of success? What are the best examples of usability in the private sector (both domestic and international)? Should those who access papers be given the opportunity to comment or provide feedback?
 
Each of these topics will form the basis of a blog posting that will appear at www.whitehouse.gov/open and will be open for comment on the OSTP blog at http://blog.ostp.gov.

02/10/09

Updates in eResearch

A new version of eResearch (2.0), the web-based regulatory management system that centralizes the review and approval process for human subjects research applications, is scheduled to go live March 1.  Please be advised that due to the upgrade, it is anticipated that the system will be down February 27-March 1.  

The new system will be particularly helpful for exempt and not-regulated projects – reducing the number of questions by as many as 60.  More information on the new system and training dates will be sent soon.

02/4/09

Call for Proposals: RCAC

The Office of Research and the Research Creative Activity Committee (RCAC) would like to announce the Winter 2009 Call for Proposals. Proposals are due in the Office of Research by Friday, March 13 at 5:00 pm.  Please note that all proposals must be submitted in hard copy and electronically. Please follow the guidelines located on our website at:

http://www.umflint.edu/research/faculty_funding/RCAC_guidelines.htm. 

Be sure to review the guidelines carefully as there have been some changes made recently to the eligibility criteria and eligible project components sections.  If you have any questions or need assistance please feel free to contact the Office of Research at 810-762-3383.

01/13/09

Updated U-M Policy on ownership of student inventions

The language in the Tech Transfer Policy (SPG 303.4) concerning the ownership of student inventions has been updated to better reflect U-M’s existing student ownership practice and our commitment to student entrepreneurship.  The earlier Policy language provided that the University would claim ownership if the student was either an employee OR created the invention with “direct or indirect support of U-M-administered funds.” The new policy states that U-M will claim ownership of inventions ONLY when created in a student’s capacity as an employee (and where the invention relates to their employment).  Thus, any student-created invention, other than one made via employment or pursuant to a voluntary written assignment to the University, will belong to the student.

It is hoped this change in policy language will be attractive to students who should now feel free to bring their ideas into the campus setting without the perceived risk of U-M claiming ownership.  Direct comments or questions to:  Kenneth J. Nisbet, Executive Director U-M Tech Transfer, 734.763.0614, [email protected].

10/21/08

Resubmitting a Rejected NIH Proposal

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced last week that scientists applying for grants will get only one chance to resubmit a rejected proposal. The current policy, which allows two revisions, bogged down the review process and forced investigators to wait in line for funding, NIH says. Giving applicants just one more try should fund the best science sooner.  The change is in response to an advisory panel that identified problems in peer review earlier this year.

06/3/08

NIH and AHRQ Announce Grants.gov Transition Plan

The National Institutes of Health and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality have recently announced two changes that will affect application submission.

First, the agencies will move from PureEdge to Adobe versions of the SF424 (R&R) grant application forms beginning in December 2008, provided a summer pilot proves successful. Second, they will transition from paper to electronic submission through Grants.gov using the SF424 (R&R) for the  Research Career Development (K), Individual National Research Service Awards (F), and Institutional National Research Service Awards and Other Training Grants (T, D) programs from paper to electronic submission through Grants.gov using the SF424 (R&R). Each award will transition individually, beginning with the K award on February 12, 2009. Timing of the transition of NIH’s complex, multi-project grant programs has not been set.

Source 

Direct questions about transition plans to [email protected].

04/28/08

A Quick Guide to Export Control Regulations and Restrictions on Access by Foreign Nationals

The primary United States regulations controlling export activities are the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) administered by the Department of State; the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) administered by the Department of Commerce; and the foreign asset control regulations administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in the Department of the Treasury. If an activity is controlled under the export regulations, then a license or other approval is needed from the relevant agency unless an exemption applies. Even if approval is not needed, there might be requirements for government review prior to conduct of the activity, for giving notice to the government, or for keeping special records. Also, if an activity is controlled, there likely will be restrictions as to who can participate in the activity. There are potentially severe civil and criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for violating the export laws. Both the organization and the individuals involved are subject to these penalties.

Across the country, universities are struggling to come to terms with export controls – particularly with respect to types of research activities conducted and the inclusion of foreign nationals on some research projects.  At the UM, a Research Restrictions Committee convened by President Mary Sue Coleman in January 2003 recommended that the University :

1. Maintain an open environment with no restrictions on publication
2. Should not accept any project that allows the exclusion of U-M personnel from participating in research due to their ethnicity, national background or nationality, unless a strong case can be made that the project is clearly in the “public interest.”

For more information on export control regulations and restrictions on access by foreign nationals, see:  http://www.research.umich.edu/policies/federal/export_controls.html .  There is a particularly useful section on debunking myths about universities and export controls.  If you have any questions or would be interested in having a workshop for your unit on this topic, please contact John Callewaert, [email protected]