Dear Colleagues,
Since our last update, the President’s FY26 budget request to Congress was released, followed by agency briefings outlining priorities. While these proposals are not yet final and remain under Senate review, they offer early insight into shifting federal research directions.
This evolving landscape has brought uncertainty. The OORI team is closely monitoring developments in partnership with University Relations. We continually adjust our approach to ensure that you have timely and strategic support. Our team is committed to providing personalized support for your research goals and partnering with you to navigate the yet uncertain future.
While it is of little comfort to researchers who have been impacted, a relatively small number of USC awards, about two percent or so, have been affected by terminations and stop work orders. The vast majority of USC’s research portfolio remains active, strong, and stable, and some awards have been reinstated.
In this month’s update, we share highlights about new OORI funding awards through the Zumberge Preliminary Research Strategies program, a call for fall workshop proposals through the Center for Excellence in Research, key compliance updates, and other information that many of you might find useful.
Our Office of Research and Innovation team is grateful for the opportunity to serve you, the USC research community. We remain steadfast in our commitment to helping you advance your work, no matter the challenges ahead, and wish you a productive and restorative summer.
With kind regards,
Ishwar K. Puri, Senior Vice President, Research & Innovation and Professor
FACULTY ENGAGEMENT: The Office of Research and Innovation is now on Bluesky! Don’t forget to follow us on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, YouTube, Slack and Bluesky
OORI Funding: Congratulations to the awardees of this year’s OORI Zumberge Preliminary Research Strategies program. OORI is committed to expanding the impact of USC research by making strategic investments that drive innovation, translate discoveries into real-world solutions, and strengthen the university’s role as a leader in advancing knowledge. This year was highly competitive for the Zumberge program, with OORI receiving 42 applications. Strategic investments were made to support the following projects: NIDDK U54 Planning: Los Angeles Kidney-Bioengineering Resource Center (LAKBRC) for Targeted RNA Therapeutics (Drs. Eunji Chung (Viterbi), Laura Perin (Keck) and Zhongwei Li (Keck)); Local Modulation of Inflammatory Signaling in a Murine Model of Sjögren’s Disease (Drs. Andrew MacKay (Pharmacy), Sarah Hamm-Alvarez (Keck) and Denis Evseenko (Keck)); Care Amidst Crisis: Applying AI to Understanding Community Resilience Responses (Bistra Dilkina (Viterbi) and Michalle Mor Barak (Social Work)), Ultrasound Imaging and Modulation in Tumor Mechanobiology (Drs. Qifa Zhou (Viterbi), Peter Yingxiao Wang (Viterbi), Longwei Liu (Viterbi) and Hsiao-Chuan Liu (Keck)) and Dissecting Enhancers to Identify New Therapeutic Targets for Advanced Prostate Cancer (Dr. Suhn Rhie (Keck)).
Proposals submitted to the Ming Hsieh program are currently under review.
Center for Excellence in Research: We’re looking for volunteers to teach a one to two-hour workshop via Zoom this fall on topics such as research resources/methods, professional development, grant writing, etc. Do you want to help researchers learn new skills? Or do you have a suggestion for a workshop? Submit a proposal and we’ll get back to you soon. To be updated about upcoming workshops, please visit our website or join our mailing list.
RESEARCH STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT: The NIH Research Training and Career Development website content has a new home on the NIH Grants and Funding website. On the Research Training and Career Development page, you’ll still be able to find NIH funding opportunities by career stage or program type, alongside application and policy resources.
There is an upcoming National Science Board (NSB) meeting, scheduled for July 23rd and July 24th. NSB is the policymaking body for the National Science Foundation and typically meets four times a year. These meetings include sessions that are open to the public. Virtual attendance is permitted and can be accessed via the National Science Board’s YouTube channel.
On June 6, OORI hosted the inaugural USC and Techstars Demo Day, where nine USC-affiliated startups pitched their ventures to investors, mentors, and campus leaders. The cohort featured innovations ranging from AI-powered tools and medical devices to food tech and drug delivery platforms. This marked the culmination of a 13-week accelerator designed to fast-track USC’s most promising founders through funding, mentorship, and expert support. Learn more about the USC and Techstars Partnership here.
As a final reminder, the submission window for the USC Techstars University Catalyst program is closing soon. This is your last chance to apply for this unique opportunity to accelerate your research-driven startup. Learn more and apply here by July 9th
Alongside the launch of our USC Innovation Ecosystem website, we’re introducing the USC Innovation Listserv, a new way to stay informed about key programs, funding opportunities, and innovation support services. To subscribe, send an email to listserv@maillist.usc.edu with “Subscribe usc-innovation [Your Name]” in the email body.
DEPARTMENT OF CONTRACTS & GRANTS:
Welcome Melisa Quinn to the DCG Team!
The Department of Contracts and Grants is pleased to welcome Melisa Quinn as a Senior Officer supporting departments in the Keck School of Medicine. Melisa brings over 20 years of research administration experience, including managing complex portfolios across 60+ departments and negotiating multi-million-dollar contracts. Her expertise in compliance, collaboration, and full-cycle grants management will be a tremendous asset to USC’s research community.
Reminder: MFTRP Certification Required by June 7
Under the CHIPS and Science Act, all PIs and co-PIs named on NSF awards made on or after May 20, 2024, must certify annually in Research.gov that they are not participating in a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program (MFTRP). Certification must be completed by June 7, 2025.
Participation in any MFTRP disqualifies individuals from serving as senior/key personnel on NSF proposals and awards. Failure to comply may result in proposal rejection or loss of funding.
Log in to Research.gov to certify. For questions, contact Ben Bell in the Office of Culture, Ethics, and Compliance.
Application of USC’s Negotiated F&A Rate:
At this time, USC’s full federally negotiated F&A rate should be applied to all federal proposals and awards. Any proposed 15% cap is currently either under injunction or on hold.
If a federal agency—such as the Department of Defense—requests a revised budget reflecting a 15% F&A cap, do not submit a revised budget. Instead, notify your Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG) Officer immediately. Please note that all communications with DoD regarding this matter must be coordinated through DCG to ensure compliance with institutional and legal guidance.
Micro Learnings:
In June, DCG released two new Microlearning segments designed to address frequently asked questions and support compliance efforts:
· Cayuse SP Approvals – A quick guide to when approvals are required through the Cayuse SP system, addressing one of the most common inquiries DCG receives.
Watch “When is Cayuse Sponsored Projects Required?”
· Restricted Research Approvals – Developed in collaboration with the Office of Culture, Ethics, and Compliance, this segment outlines the process for requesting approval for restricted research projects.
Watch “Requesting Approval to Conduct Restricted Research at USC”.
We encourage you to check them out and hope you find them helpful!
STEVENS CENTER FOR INNOVATION: USC will be the host university for the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Annual Conference in 2026! We will roll out the red carpet and give them star treatment at the Welcome Reception at Town & Gown. Inventors are bright stars and have illuminated the world with their groundbreaking innovations. The theme for the NAI’s 15th Annual Conference is “Spotlight on Our Stars,” which will highlight inventors’ star power in society. The main conference will take place at the Loews Hollywood Hotel, which is adjacent to the Dolby Theatre and home of the Academy Awards annually. Watch the announcement video spotlighting our research community that premiered at the NAI Annual Conference in Atlanta on June 26th and learn more about our institution’s inducted Fellows and Senior Members on our NAI webpage. Congrats to all the inductees this year!
At the NAI Annual Conference last week, Our Executive Director, Dr. Erin Overstreet, served on two panels. During the “Universities Serving as Innovation Flagships” panel, she shared USC’s innovation ecosystem for creating cutting-edge technologies and the crucial role of our tech transfer office in supporting inventors and commercializing their innovations. She also joined the “Bridging Innovation – The State of Innovation in California Universities” panel with leaders from the University of California, Riverside, and Stanford University. Dr. Overstreet discussed innovations in Los Angeles and industry partnerships, the evolution of IP policies, and the positive shifts in support of inventions and panels.
Between USC Stevens, USC AMI Innovation Fund, and KSOM’s MESH Strategic Partnerships, USC had a strong presence at BIO International Convention, the largest and most comprehensive event for biotechnology, representing the full ecosystem of biotech with 20,000 industry leaders from across the globe. Our new Director of Technology Licensing, Rose Kiser, went to Boston with her life sciences team, Charlie Bramlett, Nikki Higa, and Veronica Go-Stevens, and connected with leaders, innovators, and dealmakers in the biotech industry. It was an inspiring and incredible few days learning about innovation and trends in life sciences.
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL RESOURCES: Per Diem Reminder: all species per diem and service rates will be increasing on July 1st as advertised in the 5 Year Rate Schedule posted early 2024. A reminder that the rates realized in 2028 are based on the cost of goods in 2023, not 2025, to eventually recover at a slow pace. 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.
On June 3rd, the USDA APHIS performed an unannounced full inspection. The USC animal care program was found to have no noncompliant items by the Veterinary Medical Officer who performed the inspection.
DAR is now in the position to gain staffing stability and is in the process of filling approved positions. A training period for new staff will soon be underway and we thank you for your patience as we do our due diligence in hiring qualified and caring staff to care for our animals. After analyzing the modifications that we made in services, we have found the following practices will remain. We continue to evaluate the value of services to ensure there is an accurate cost basis to the rates, without any compromise to the health and welfare of the animals.
- Direct charge for Pink Sticker Euthanasia service at $1.60/mouse cage, $4.34/rat cage that can be requested via AOPS.usc.edu
- Shoe Covers will phase out; evidence does not support their use for preventing the spread of rodent pathogens
- Limit printing of reserve cage cards
The following are still being evaluated on an interim basis before staffing levels stabilize:
- Delaying animal purchase orders >20 cages
- Purchases of USDA covered species on a case-by-case basis.
- Evaluation of single-housed mouse cage changes every 28 days.
- Suspension of rodent rack autoclaving.
More information, including what you can do, can be found at dar.usc.edu.
Did You Know: USC DAR regularly receives a new species of animal every few years without prior husbandry or veterinary experience. Our team is skilled at partnering with lab animal colleagues (vets, investigators, animal care personnel) to gain new knowledge and adapt our room environments and equipment for species-specific behavior and care. We do our research by visiting locations and institutions where these species are housed to meet with the vet and animal care staff about special needs and common problems.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY: During recent lab inspections, EH&S identified several recurring issues that compromise safety and compliance. The most common findings include:
- Housekeeping Concerns: Spilled or unidentified materials, signs of possible contamination, and areas showing potential mold or corrosion can pose serious risks. Regular cleaning, proper storage, and labeling go a long way in maintaining a safe environment.
- Improper Waste Management: We often see chemical waste containers with incomplete labels, incompatible materials stored together, and lacking secondary containment. These are all findings that can lead to chemical exposure, spills, or worse!
To ensure compliance, please review these key resources:
Questions? Email EH&S at ehs@usc.edu.
Monthly updates are archived here.