Federal Updates

Institutional Updates

New Feature Added to EPCS Key Personnel Tab

Beginning November 1, 2026, department grant administrators (DGAs) and proposal initiators will be required to upload Key Personnel documents to each EPCS record. Required documents include the current biographical sketch, the current/pending (other) support document, and the synergistic activities document.

This enhancement will establish a centralized repository for Key Personnel documentation while also providing the OVPRI Conflict of Interest (COI) team with a single location to conduct congruence reviews for federally funded proposals. (posted November 2026)

Updates to Financial Conflict of Interest in Research Training and Required Updated Training

The University Senate approved updates to the Financial Conflict of Interest in Research Policy on October 28, 2026, and the policy changes will be effective once approved by the Policy Advisory Committee in early November. These updates have been driven by changes in federal regulations.

Important: What Researchers Need to Do

• Researchers must re-complete financial conflict of interest in research training, as required under federal regulations when the policy changes. The training takes about one hour to complete and remains valid for three years. The Conflict of Interest Office will not approve award actions until PIs and senior/key personnel complete the revised training.

What Researchers Need to Know

The policy updates include the following additions:

• Department of Energy researchers must disclose sponsored travel of any amount in the Research Administration Portal.
• Researchers must make accurate and appropriate disclosures to sponsors in biographical sketches, current/pending support documents, synergistic activities, and other requested documents. Please see the UO’s sponsor disclosure guide for assistance.
• In addition to managing actual and potential conflicts, the UO must also manage apparent conflicts of interest for Department of Energy researchers.
• The new policy applies the federal regulatory exemption for SBIR/STTR Phase 1 awards from management under the FCOI Policy.

Researchers must still:

• Disclose Significant Financial Interests annually, even if they have nothing to disclose.
• Update their disclosures within 30 days (or sooner if required by a sponsor) of a change in an existing interest or acquisition of a new one.  
• Complete financial conflict of interest in research training every three years.

Disclosures are still submitted through the Research Administration Portal. (posted November 2026)

New Guidance Available for Navigating Personnel, Publication, and Cybersecurity Restrictions in Sponsored Research

Under UO’s Classified Research Policy, researchers may not participate in classified research, but sponsors may impose restrictions on project personnel, publication, data sharing, and cybersecurity.  

Sponsored Projects Services (SPS), the Information Security Office, and the Office of Export Controls have developed an online guide (Duck ID required) to help principal investigators (PIs) and DGAs navigate these restrictions. Common requirements include U.S. citizenship restrictions, controls on dissemination of research information, and enhanced IT security standards such as Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, and DFARS 252.204-7012.

Because the UO cannot currently support many of these requirements, especially those involving CUI or advanced cybersecurity compliance, researchers should carefully review funding announcements and consult the online guide early in proposal preparation. Secure computing environments may require additional planning, compliance documentation, and proposal budget support. (posted November 2026)

Reminder to Complete the Subrecipient Certification Form

Reminder: All subrecipients must complete the Subrecipient Certification Form, regardless of Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) status. Universities require a subrecipient commitment form to verify institutional eligibility, authorize official sign-off, assess financial and regulatory risk, and confirm compliance with federal and sponsor rules before submitting a joint proposal for funding. (posted November 2026)

Apply for Research Funding from the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation

OVPRI invites tenure-track and career research faculty from all academic disciplines to apply to its research grant programs.

The Faculty Research Awards program stimulates research, scholarship, and creative projects by providing eligible faculty with up to $10,000 in support for research expenses. Summer salary is allowed up to $7,000.

The Research Seed Grant program offers support for individual projects (up to $25,000) and larger team-based projects (up to $50,000). The Research Seed Grant supports projects that will lead to external grant funding proposals that reflect a strong return on investment.

Full descriptions, guidelines, and the application form are available online on each program’s webpage. The deadline for receipt of proposals to either program is 11:59 p.m. on February 5, 2027.

Principal Investigators may not apply to both the Faculty Research Award and the Research Seed Grant programs for the same project. Further, we do not anticipate that applicants will have more than one active OVPRI award at a time except in unusual circumstances (e.g., recipients of Strategic Investment Fund awards). To determine which program best fits your proposed project, contact Research Development Services, rds@uoregon.edu. (posted November 2026)

Research Compliance Services Website Updates

As part of its commitment to continuous quality improvement, Research Compliance Services (RCS) has enhanced its website to improve navigation and accessibility. RCS recently updated its Children in Research webpage to provide researchers with clear, streamlined guidance on key considerations for conducting research involving children. Of the more than 1,000 active human subjects studies overseen by RCS and the Institutional Review Board (IRB), approximately 25% originate from the College of Education. Given the college’s extensive research involving children, RCS remains committed to supporting researchers in meeting human subjects protection requirements and conducting research involving children in an ethical and compliant manner. (posted November 2026)

Responsible Conduct of Research Reminder

The Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) encompasses the ethical and professional standards that guide the conduct of research and help foster a culture of integrity, accountability, and public trust. Researchers are expected to uphold the highest standards of honesty, accuracy, objectivity, and accountability throughout the research process.

Research misconduct is defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, reviewing, or reporting research. Maintaining accurate research records, following approved protocols, and addressing concerns promptly are essential practices that support research integrity.

Federal agencies, sponsors, and the university require certain researchers, students, and trainees to complete Responsible Conduct of Research training to promote ethical research practices and awareness of research integrity responsibilities.

Researchers with questions about RCR, research integrity, or concerns regarding potential research misconduct may contact Sheryl Johnson, Research Integrity Officer (RIO), at sherylj@uoregon.edu or 541-346-3106. Also see the RCS webpages for RCR information. (posted November 2026)

New Outgoing Subaward Agreement Type is Now Available in the RAP

Following our announcement last month, the new outgoing subaward agreement type is now officially live in the RAP Agreements module as of November 1.

This new agreement type is designed to streamline the creation, tracking, and management of subawards issued by the UO to subrecipients and allows both incoming and outgoing sponsored projects agreements to be processed in one system.

Recordings of last week’s training sessions and a link to the DGA guidance document for entering subawards in the RAP will be posted on the DGA Meeting Materials page. (posted November 2026)

Proposals with Named Consultants/Vendors

If a consultant or vendor is specifically named in a federal proposal and the anticipated purchase will be between $10,000 and $150,000, we should encourage PIs and departments to obtain three quotes during the proposal stage whenever possible. Collecting the quotes up front can help avoid delays if the proposal is funded. The university strongly encourages submission of these quotes to SPS during proposal development unless the purchase will be made through Duck Depot or a qualifying exemption applies.Please also remind investigators that simply naming a consultant or vendor in a proposal does not satisfy federal procurement requirements. In addition, if the PI intends to use a specific vendor without competition, the sponsor must expressly approve the purchase or another allowable exemption from competition must apply. Federal procurement requirements will still need to be addressed at the award stage.

A few key reminders:

• Naming a consultant or vendor in the proposal budget or budget justification does not, by itself, satisfy federal procurement requirements.
• For federally funded purchases between $10,000 and $150,000, obtaining three competitive quotes during proposal preparation can significantly streamline award administration.
• If a project plans to purchase goods or services from a foreign vendor, the DGA or PI may submit a Compliance Check Request to verify that the vendor is not a restricted entity and is not subject to the BIOSECURE Act. If the purchase will be processed through Purchasing and Contracting Services (PCS), this review is conducted as part of the PCS process.
• If a non-competitive purchase is anticipated, the sponsor's approval should be documented in the proposal materials whenever possible.
• Purchases made through Duck Depot are exempt from this requirement because those suppliers have already been through a qualifying competitive process.
• If a vendor is not yet known at the proposal stage (TBD/TBA), the competitive procurement requirement will still apply at the award stage unless an approved exemption exists.

Additional guidance is available on the website: Proposals with Names Consultants/VendorsPlease keep this requirement in mind during budget development and review. (posted November 2026)

New Export Control Policy Supports International Researchers

The University of Oregon has adopted a new Export Control Policy (II.06.01), effective July 15, 2026. The policy supports and protects the UO’s global research enterprise and community of international researchers while ensuring compliance with federal export control and sanctions requirements.

Export control regulations apply to a range of university activities, including international research collaborations, travel, hosting and hiring foreign nationals, sponsored research, and the transfer or use of certain technology, software, equipment, and materials across national borders or to foreign nationals in the U.S.

Engagements with foreign nationals and foreign vendors that are routed through a central office, like International Student and Scholar Services, Sponsored Projects Services, Mail Services, Business Affairs Office (BAO) Travel, and Industry, Innovation, and Translation, already have existing procedures to meet federal export control requirements and the UO policy. Researchers with foreign engagements not going through a central office should email exportcontrols@uoregon.edu for guidance on meeting federal regulations and the UO policy.

The Office of Export Controls is here to help. The office provides training, one-on-one consultations, and guidance to help the UO community conduct international research responsibly and in compliance with federal requirements.

Questions? Contact the Office of Export Controls at exportcontrols@uoregon.edu or 541-346-2090. (posted October 2026)

Mechanical Turk (MTurk) Permanently Closed

On September 30, 2026, Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) was permanently closed. For more information, see the MTurk Closure FAQs.

If researchers are currently using MTurk for recruitment or data collection on their studies and need to change their IRB materials as a result, please submit a modification and get approval for that modification before implementing the changes. For more information about how to submit changes in the Research Administration Portal (RAP), see the Modify Study (RAP Instructions) and the Modification Review webpage. (posted October 2026)

Best Practices for International Collaborations and Co-authored Publications

As federal sponsor agencies have increased scrutiny of international research activities to safeguard federally funded research from foreign influence, the Office of Export Controls has developed additional guidance to support researchers.

Transparency and timely disclosure about international collaborations and co-authored publications are the best ways to minimize research security and compliance risks.

1. Maintain complete, accurate sponsor disclosures. Report new relationships in annual progress reports as they arise and ensure current/pending support documents and biographical sketches are kept up to date. Updated documents can be submitted during annual reports. Disclose affiliations, resources, and other support, including in-kind contributions and shared materials. The UO's sponsor disclosure guidance can help determine what to disclose and how to report it.
2. Understand how sponsors may view co-authorship. Federal sponsors may interpret co-authored publications as evidence of a research collaboration or foreign component, even when no formal or meaningful collaboration exists. Researchers can use the Foreign Co-Authorship Screening Form to help assess potential disclosure obligations and compliance considerations.
3. Ensure authorship and affiliations are accurate. Include only individuals who meet authorship standards and list the institutional affiliation associated with the research at the time the work was conducted, which may differ from a co-author's current affiliation. Researchers should complete the Foreign Co-Authorship Screening Form so proposed co-authors and affiliations can be screened against U.S. government restricted party lists before publication.
4. Consider the long-term implications of collaborations. Formal and informal collaborations, regardless of whether they are federally funded, can lead to future co-authored publications and may attract sponsor scrutiny now or in the future. Researchers involved in international collaborations may request a restricted party screening to better understand potential risks.
5. Seek guidance early. The Office of Export Controls can answer questions, help assess risks associated with specific collaborations, and provide guidance based on your research activities and funding portfolio. Researchers may email the office with questions or request an individual consultation. (posted October 2026)

Brush Up on the Requirements: Responsible Conduct of Research

Fall is a perfect time to brush up on the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training requirements. Review the UO's RCR Training and Education Plan as an annual reminder of the requirements for training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research among members of the UO research community. You can find resources to build your RCR training and access online CITI RCR training (satisfies some training requirements) on the Research Compliance Services (RCS) website; there are additional on-demand RCR trainings available, too.

The UO encourages ethical research practices and provides a mechanism to address allegations of research misconduct as required by federal regulations and best practices. If you have concerns about research integrity or you would like to report an allegation of research misconduct, contact the Research Integrity Officer. See the RCS website for information and to review the UO’s policy on Allegations of Research Misconduct/Research Integrity. (posted October 2026)

New “Outgoing Sub-award” Agreement Type Coming to the RAP In November

Following a successful pilot program, we are pleased to announce that a new Outgoing Subaward agreement type within the Research Administration Portal (RAP) Agreements module will go live in November. This agreement type is designed to streamline the creation, tracking, and management of sub-awards issued by the UO to sub-recipients, and will allow both incoming and outgoing sponsored projects agreements to be processed in one system.

User training sessions will be held at the end of October. An email will be sent to the DGA community later this month with more details on the training sessions. We encourage everyone to attend. (posted October 2026)

New Authorized Organization Representative on Proposals as of August 10, 2026

Proposals with due dates on or after August 10, 2026, must list our new Vice President for Research and Innovation, Bethany D. Jenkins, Ph.D., on the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) line of each application. All other address information will remain the same. (posted August 2026)

IRB Forms Are Getting a Refresh for Accessibility

As part of our ongoing commitment to inclusivity and user experience, Research Compliance Services (RCS) is overhauling our documentation to make forms and guidance documents more accessible. During the next couple of months, all forms and guidance will be updated. See the Human Subjects Applications, Forms and Guidance webpage for the most recent versions.

• Improved accessibility: The new forms are optimized for screen readers and utilize a clean layout to ensure a smoother experience for everyone.

• Similar content, new look: While the page counts are longer due to formatting changes, the actual content remains largely the same and has even been streamlined in some cases. (posted August 2026)

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Expedited Research Contracts Review Request Form now available

If an agreement for a sponsored project requires expedited review, please submit an Expedited Review Request Form available on the SPS Forms webpage.  Expedited review requests may be approved if:

• The agreement start date has already passed.
• The agreement end date has already expired.
• An invoice is due while the agreement is still under review.
• An amendment is received before the base agreement has been finalized.

Please note that expedited reviews are subject to approval.  Review timelines may still be affected by factors such as negotiations with the sponsor or incomplete documentation. (posted July 2026)

Revised UO Policy on Allegations of Research Misconduct/Research Integrity

The University of Oregon has revised Policy II.06.02, Allegations of Research Misconduct, to align with updated federal regulations. The revised policy has been approved by the UO Senate and is undergoing review by the federal Office of Research Integrity (ORI) to ensure compliance with current requirements.As recipients of federal research funding, institutions must maintain a compliant research misconduct policy, adhere to federal regulations, and meet annual reporting requirements to maintain their assurance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

For additional information, please visit the Allegations of Research Misconduct webpage. (posted July 2026)

Dropbox updates July 1 

Starting July 1, 2026, UO Dropbox users will receive a baseline amount of 2 TB of individual storage for free, which can be increased for a yearly fee through team storage. That 2 TB baseline accommodates the vast majority of users—so nearly everyone can simply keep using Dropbox as they do today. Learn more about the upcoming Dropbox updates. 

These updates were announced last spring as part of the UO’s digital storage transformation. Explore the UO’s evolving storage options with the Data Storage Finder. (posted June 2026)

RAP Quick Tip and Reminder: Closing Human Subjects Research 

For studies previously reviewed and approved by the UO’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) or determined exempt, the study must be closed once human subject research activities conclude and prior to the study expiration date. It is the principal investigator’s (PI) responsibility to close the study (or the faculty advisor if the PI is a student and has left the university). The Research Administration Portal (RAP) sends automated reminders until your study expires. Once it has lapsed, those reminders are no longer sent. 

Please take a few minutes to review the studies where you are listed as a team member. This will allow you to review and assess whether any action is required for studies where you are listed as the PI or faculty advisor. These studies can be found by clicking on the “IRB” tab at the top of the RAP webpage, then by clicking on the “Active” sub tab. (posted June 2026)

Guidance for Researchers Returning from Abroad with UO-Owned Laptops

Some institutions have reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents have questioned returning researchers about their laptops and research data after international travel.

Please remember to log all travel into Concur. Researchers traveling to higher-risk destinations will be issued a loaner laptop and provided guidance on how to respond to CBP questions about electronic devices.  

Key information

1. You are legally required to unlock laptops and other electronic devices if requested by a federal agent.
2. If a federal agent asks about your laptop AND you are using a loaner laptop, you may explain that:
   1. The University of Oregon provided the laptop for your international travel.
   2. No data was stored on the device at the time of issuance.
   3. The laptop contains standard antivirus software and Microsoft 365.
   4. The laptop will be returned to UO Information Security User Support Services to review and wipe upon your return.

If CBP asks questions about your device or research data, please notify exportcontrols@uoregon.edu and gcounsel@uoregon.edu. (posted May 2026)

Revised UO Policy on Allegations of Research Misconduct/Research Integrity

Due to changes in federal regulations, the UO Policy II.06.02, Allegations of Research Misconduct, was revised. Now approved by the UO Senate, our revised institutional policy will next receive review by the federal Office of Research Integrity, which oversees the Public Health Service regulations under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to ensure compliance with the revised regulations. Institutions that receive federal funding for research must have a compliant, written research misconduct policy and follow federal research misconduct regulations, as well as report annually to renew their assurance with HHS. Please visit the Allegations of Research Misconduct webpage for more information. (posted May 2026)

The UO’s Approach to “Gold Standard Science”  

Last year, the White House released an executive order, “Restoring Gold Standard Science,” and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued guidance outlining the nine tenets identified as Gold Standard Science. OVPRI has long been a champion of the key indicators identified in the Gold Standard documents, including activities to support scientific inquiry, reproducibility, transparency, interdisciplinary collaborations, and mitigate conflicts of interest. OVPRI now shares “Gold Standard Science at the University of Oregon” expressing its ongoing commitment to these tenets and exemplifying its further integration into research excellence at the UO. (posted May 2026)

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