Dear Colleagues,
Today’s imperative asks me to acknowledge the uncertainty that many in our research community face due to federal directives and their potential impact on our work. The USC Executive Orders and Agency Memos page and a companion OORI page that lists notifications of federal directives provide relevant information.
Please bookmark these resources and check them as federal actions evolve. Some of the recent discussion has focused on indirect costs charged by universities. This video is instructive in explaining the need for these costs.
The OORI team works on your behalf. We remain committed to advocating for fair and sustainable research funding policies that support USC faculty, researchers, students, and provide benefits for our communities, region and nation.
With kind regards,
Ishwar K. Puri, Senior Vice President, Research & Innovation and Professor
FACULTY ENGAGEMENT:
Modification to the Zumberge Preliminary Studies Research Award. The eligible topics of research for the Zumberge award program have been updated. Please click here to download the Request for Proposals.
Extended OORI proposal submission deadlines. As a reminder, the proposal submission deadlines for the OORI award programs listed below have been extended to 5 PM on the following days in March 2025. The link to all award programs can be found here. Please contact rii@usc.edu if you have any questions.
March 3: Early Career Innovator award (new award program)
March 4: President’s Sustainability Initiative Award
March 11: Institutional Training Planning Award
March 12: Zumberge Preliminary Studies Research Award
March 18: Instrumentation Award
March 19: Collaborative Research Planning Award
March 25: Student Empowerment Award
March 26: Ming Hsieh Institute Research Award
RESEARCH STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT:
National Institutes of Health: Grant applications submitted to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) now require the use of new forms, and most applications will go through a simplified peer-review process. Five notable updates include:
- Updated application forms: FORMS-I replace FORMS-H—application guide instructions can be found here.
Simplified Framework for NIH Peer Review Criteria. The current five scored criteria for reviewing grant applications will be reorganized into three factors.
Changes to NIH Fellowship Applications and updates to NIH Institutional Training Grant applications. The PHS Fellowship supplemental form includes notable changes. For training grant applications, the Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity will be a separate attachment with a three-page limit. New Training Data Tables are required. New referee instructions will apply to all applications requiring reference letters, including those for fellowships (F awards) and mentored career development (K awards).
Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Other Support updates. For submissions on or after May 25, 2025, NIH will begin requiring the use of the new biographical sketch Common Form, new NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement form, and the Common Form for Current and Pending (Other) Support.
Additional resources regarding these updates are as follows: Changes Coming to NIH Applications and Peer Review in 2025; Simplifying review of research project grant applications webpage and Sample Critique Template for the Simplified Review Framework; NIH Simplified Review Framework for Research Project Grants (RPGs): Implementation and Impact on Funding Opportunities video; Updates to NIH Institutional Training Grant Applications video.
USC and Techstars Digital Economy Program: Pitch your idea, meet co-founders, and build the foundation of a new startup at the USC and Techstars Startup Weekend on April 11-13! Startup Weekend is a three-day event designed to develop new and researched ideas from USC faculty/staff, alumni, and students. Participants will work on tech and digitally enabled solutions, such as those in DeepTech, Health / BioTech, AI, EdTech, FinTech, and more. Whether you’re curious about startups or a serial entrepreneur, come experience innovation in action! Learn More & Register To Attend Startup Weekend 2025.
DEPARTMENT OF CONTRACTS & GRANTS:
Recent Updates on Federal Directives and Implementation of Executive Orders (EO’s):
Court Injunction on Implementation of EO’s:
A court has issued a preliminary injunction on sections of Executive Order 14151 and Executive Order 14173, temporarily preventing the administration from canceling, pausing, or modifying existing grants, contracts, or obligations based on termination provisions; requiring DEI-related certifications from grantees or contractors; or initiating enforcement actions related to these provisions. This ruling is temporary and does not represent a final resolution of the matter. For additional information please review the DCG Newsflash.
Court Block on NIH Proposed F&A Cap:
A federal judge has extended the temporary block on the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) plan to reduce F&A payments to universities to 15%. At this time, please continue use of USC negotiated F&A rates until additional guidance is received. For additional information please review the DCG Newsflash.
NSF Website Regarding Implementation of EO’s:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has launched a webpage detailing the impact of these changes on federally funded research, including compliance and funding guidance. Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has introduced significant updates to its research funding policies, affecting application requirements and budgets. Researchers should remain vigilant to ensure compliance with these shifting regulations.
USC Tools to Monitor Developments:
OORI and DCG will continue to monitor developments and advise faculty and research administrators to stay updated on federal funding policies that could influence their grant applications and budgeting strategies.
For additional guidance on federal directives and their implications, please visit our DCG Federal Directives page and please sign up to receive Newsflashes by sending an email to Congelli@usc.edu with the subject line “Subscribe to DCG Listserv.”
Upcoming Trainings
The Department of Contracts and Grants offers on a monthly basis, and upon request, a pre-award and post-award training. The pre-award training walks administrators through the proposal process at USC covering; roles and responsibilities, how to route proposals through the Cayuse system, and USC processes and policies to be aware of. The post-award training provides an overview of roles and responsibilities, cost principles, common post award issues and how/when to seek sponsor prior approval. Below are the dates and times the trainings will be available in November:
Pre-Award Training: A Walk-Through Cayuse SP and the Proposal Process
Monday, March 31st from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm PST
Post-Award: Managing Common Post Award Issues and Questions
Tuesday, April 1st from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm PST
HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION PROGRAM: The HRPP is gearing up for an impending accreditation site visit (remote) that will include two days of meetings and interviews. The dates have not yet been confirmed, but we expect the visit to occur in the first week of April. USC has been accredited by AAHRPP since 2007. AAHRPP will interview several groups of people, including investigators, IRB members, HRPP Staff, the Institutional Official, and other USC staff. Some people may be interviewed in a group format while others will be individual interviews. If you are chosen to be interviewed, the HRPP will reach out to you to schedule it.
We will be restarting our feedback mechanisms for researchers in the form of post IRB approval surveys in the near future. We hope to learn what is working and where areas of improvement are needed. While we always welcome direct feedback from study teams on our processes, this will provide an anonymous way to provide information to help us improve.
We are also hiring! The HRPP has an open position for a Lead IRB Analyst. We have just started this process and are gathering resumes. While we have posted the job on relevant professional websites, referrals are a great way to find high quality candidates. If you know of anyone who may be interested, please encourage them to apply.
STEVENS CENTER FOR INNOVATION: We are pleased to share upcoming enhancements to USC Stevens’ technology transfer infrastructure. Next week, we will be implementing MTAShare, a specialized platform for managing Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) and Data Use Agreements (DUAs) on the website. This system will significantly reduce processing times and improve transparency.
MTAShare Key Benefits:
- Faster processing of MTAs and Data Transfer Agreements (DTAs)
- Automated handling of standard agreements
- Built-in export control compliance tools
- Clear status tracking and real-time updates
- Reduced administrative burden
We encourage you to start using it and share any feedback. If you have any questions about the transition or want to learn more, please reach out to your licensing associate or Melissa Whorton. Thank you!
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL RESOURCES: Two recent exciting publications have come from authors in DAR this month. One is a recent collaboration between Dr. Lynlee Stevey-Rindenow, DAR, with Dr. Bar-Cohen, Cardiology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Keck School of Medicine, USC, on a cardiac pacemaker in a swine model that will have clinical applications that could save lives soon. We are grateful for the many animals that contributed their lives to this study. You can find their innovative research published here. Another recent manuscript has been published in the AVMA Journal of Veterinary Research, entitled, Pharmacokinetics of extended-release buprenorphine in female Yorkshire swine (Sus scrofa domestica). This first publication will be the leading reference for all swine models in animal research that are utilizing an extended pain reliever. DAR continues to support collaborative research efforts to advance clinical medicine and biomedical science.
DAR is starting a program to combat compassion fatigue called the DAR Cares Committee. This will be made up of a group of DAR staff members from various roles of the department and will meet monthly starting next month. This is the first time the department has addressed these important mental health concerns using a programmatic approach. For information about how compassion fatigue and euthanasia stress effects those who work with animals, including laboratory staff, visit 3Rs Collaborative .
Per Diem Reminder: all species per diem rates will be increasing on July 1st as advertised in the 5 Year Rate Schedule posted early 2024. The mouse per diem will be $1.42 and the rat per diem will be $2.42, please see the link for all species and upcoming years.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY: A big shoutout to everyone who participated in the Emergency Eyewash/Shower Challenge! Your commitment to lab safety helps keep our research community prepared for incidents in the lab. Missed the Challenge but still want a refresher on how to use the emergency equipment in your lab? The How to Use and Emergency Eyewash or Shower at USC video is now available as a trackable training on TrojanLearn or on the USC EH&S YouTube channel.
Radiation Safety Reminders
Thank you for ensuring a smooth transition of RAM inventory and management into the new Risk and Safety Solutions (RSS) Radiation solution. As a reminder, all radioactive waste and monthly contamination checks should be submitted through the new system. We have composed these handy SOPs to assist you in each of these processes.
New Dichloromethane (DCM) Regulation Coming Soon
New Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on DCM in the workplace are coming in 2025. Help EH&S assess lab inventory and usage by completing this quick DCM survey. Your feedback is essential in helping USC stay compliant with the upcoming regulation.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at EHS@usc.edu. Thank you for your commitment to the health and safety of the USC community.
Monthly updates are archived here.