Dear Colleagues,
As we approach the start of the new academic year, this month’s research update includes announcements, policy changes, and resources to support your work to make full use of the opportunities that lie ahead of us. Here, you will find:
- Updates on OORI funding programs and faculty engagement opportunities;
- Key NIH and NSF policy changes on research security, foreign subawards, and AI-generated content;
- The latest information from our Department of Contracts and Grants, including the updated USC Guide to Sponsored Research;
- Transition updates and resources from our USC Stevens Center for Innovation; and
- New services, rates, and training opportunities from our Department of Animal Resources.
I encourage you to review the full update for details and share relevant items with your teams.
Thank you for your continued commitment to research and innovation at USC. I look forward to celebrating the progress we will make together during the year ahead.
Warm regards,
Ishwar K. Puri
Senior Vice President, Research & Innovation and Professor
FACULTY ENGAGEMENT: OORI Funding: Thank you to those who submitted proposal applications to the Ming Hsieh program. The 16 applications received are currently under review. A final decision is scheduled for the end of August.
Dimensions Database: The University has discontinued its institutional license for the Dimensions database. Dimensions does not offer individual licenses. Please contact Dimensions Sales directly (Hillery Pastovich) should you want to inquire about a license for your department or school.
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: NIH Updates: NIH has recently released NOT-OD-25-132 in response to the use of AI when generating proposal content. The notice states that NIH will not consider applications that are either substantially developed by AI, or contain sections substantially developed by AI, to be original ideas of applicants. If the detection of AI is identified post award, NIH may refer the matter to the Office of Research Integrity to determine whether there is research misconduct while simultaneously taking enforcement actions including but not limited to disallowing costs, withholding future awards, wholly or in part suspending the grant, and possible termination.
On July 18, 2025, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued an update to its foreign subaward policy through Guide Notice NOT-OD-25-130, expanding on the previously released NOT-OD-25-104. This update provides important implementation guidance for NIH-funded projects that were active or had applications submitted prior to May 1, 2025.
NSF Updates: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued Important Notice No. 149 outlining major updates to research security policies in alignment with the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 and NSPM-33. These changes impact all NSF-funded proposals and awards and are effective October 10, 2025.
DEPARTMENT OF CONTRACTS & GRANTS: NIH Policy Updates: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has released NOT-OD-25-128: Guidance on Enforcement of Closeout Requirements During the Appeals Process, clarifying that NIH will not initiate unilateral closeout actions while an appeal of a terminated award is under review. Please check out the newsflash for additional information.
NIH is issuing a policy to outline guidance for appropriate usage of AI in research applications. To support this goal, NIH is also limiting the number of applications that NIH will consider per PI per calendar year. Please check out the newsflash for additional information.
NIH has also issued updated guidance concerning foreign subawards. As part of an evolving strategy to increase oversight and transparency, NIH is transitioning toward a new model that replaces traditional foreign subawards with direct awards or other mechanisms. While the new model is being finalized, NIH is offering short-term supplements for ongoing clinical research under existing foreign subawards. Please check out our newsflash for additional information.
NSF Policy Updates: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued updates to its research security policies, effective October 10, 2025. Key revisions include new requirements for certifying Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR) training plans for faculty and other senior personnel, as well as expanded disclosure requirements for foreign activities and affiliations. These changes are part of a broader federal initiative to safeguard the integrity of the research enterprise. Please review the newsflash for additional information. USC investigators and research administrators are strongly encouraged to review these updates and ensure full compliance ahead of the implementation date.
Updated Guide to Research: The Department of Contracts and Grants is pleased to announce the release of the Summer 2025 USC Guide to Sponsored Research. This guide remains your essential resource for sponsored projects and research compliance at USC. Principal Investigators and research administrators should review the updated guide to ensure alignment with the latest policies and best practices.
Recent Microlearnings:
What You Need to Know About Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs
How to Expedite Your Award Set-Up at USC
The Microlearnings provides bi-weekly training designed to deliver concise, focused sessions on core research administration topics. Please check out our complete listing of trainings on our DCG training website.
STEVENS CENTER FOR INNOVATION: We have officially and successfully transitioned from Wellspring’s Sophia to Inteum’s Minuet database to better support USC inventors. This upgrade impacts the way invention disclosures are submitted online, and we appreciate your patience as we work to improve your experience. To assist with any technical questions or help navigate invention disclosures in our new system, we’ll be holding weekly Zoom office hours. Members of the Technology Commercialization team and our Database Analyst will be available for weekly Zoom Office Hours every Wednesday from 10:00 to 11:00 to support you. Please email licensing@stevens.usc.edu to request the meeting link. We’re excited about this new platform and look forward to supporting researchers’ innovations even more efficiently.
We’re thrilled to introduce our second cohort of licensing assistants and interns! Launched last year, the program has been successful for PhD and PharmD candidates and those recently graduated with PhDs interested in technology transfer. Our seasoned licensing managers have provided hands-on training in patentability analyses, market analysis, and agreement negotiation. Please learn more about the incredible second cohort and join us in welcoming them to the USC Stevens team.
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL RESOURCES: New per diem rates are now effective for FY 25-26, please see dar.usc.edu under Billing for the species list table.
A brief online training on how to request certain rodent care services through AOPs is available at dar.usc.edu under Services > Rodent Care Requests. This training enables laboratory personnel working with rodents to request assistance from a DAR animal care team member for specific fee-based services. Please note that a pink sticker must still be placed on the cage when submitting a service request.
For species other than mice and rats, specialized support can be requested from DAR veterinarians, billed at the veterinarian rate. Current service fees are:
1. $1.60 per mouse cage
2. $4.34 per rat cage
3. $10/mouse neonate cage
4. $17/ rat neonate cage
5. $210/hour – Licensed veterinarian
If additional training is needed for any lab member handling these species, please submit a request to iacuc@usc.edu.
Training for newly hired DAR team members is currently underway. We appreciate your patience during this period. After evaluating recent modifications to our services, the following practices will remain in place:
1. Direct charge for pink-sticker services requested via AOPs.usc.edu
2. A recent IStar announcement was sent to all animal users with additional details
3. Shoe covers will be phased out, as evidence does not support their effectiveness in preventing the spread of rodent pathogens
4. Printing of reserve cage cards will be limited
We continue to review our services to ensure accurate cost structures while maintaining the health and welfare of the animals.
· Direct charge for Pink Sticker services can be requested via AOPS.usc.edu
o A recent Istar message was sent out about this to all animal users
· 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: DAR veterinarians have done research and published hypothesis driven research projects themselves? In fact, DAR is privileged to have 2 board certified American College of Laboratory Animal (ACLAM) boarded Diplomates. Requirements for this specialization include a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from an accredited veterinary medical college after completion of a 4-year Bachelor’s degree, completion of a 3-4-year ACLAM approved residency, publishing a first author scientific hypothesis driven paper in a peer reviewed journal, passing the written and practical ACLAM certifying examination, and recertifying every 8 years from specific CE requirements. Lab animal veterinarians, colloquially termed, are trained as veterinarians but also have scientific interests and backgrounds. They aim to be viewed as partners to support your research using their unique clinical and surgical skills, handling of animals, pathogen elimination in the facilities, humane techniques to manage pain, and precise knowledge of the regulations.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY: Roughly two-thirds of labs at USC contain compressed gas cylinders. These cylinders are essential for your research, but they also come with serious risks because of the tremendous, stored pressure they contain. The gas regulator reduces the pressure to lower levels for safe use. Therefore, it is imperative that you learn to operate one appropriately.
EH&S is pleased to present a three-part series on Gas Regulator safety. Part 1 describes how a gas regulator works, Part 2 explains the process for attaching and detaching a gas regulator to a cylinder, and Part 3 covers how to leak test a gas system and regulator.
Check out all the Gas Regulator Safety videos on our EH&S YouTube Page here.
Monthly updates are archived here.