Dear colleagues,

I’m not sure that I’m in the mood for an April Fool’s Day joke, since I think either April or Fool or both are on the NIH watch list of forbidden words for grant applications…

Below, please find updates and guidance on this week’s federal actions. As always, please feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions.

Below, please find updates and guidance on this week’s federal actions. As always, please feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions.

  • Despite having a relatively strong budget, NIH continues to get hollowed out. Tara Schwetz, an NIH deputy director who works on policy matters, was placed on administrative leave. NIH has posted on its Extramural Research website a useful page regarding implementation of the Administration’s initiatives, with updates on applications and reporting.
  • NIH announced that it would be centralizing (timeline unclear) peer review of all applications within the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), which currently runs approximately three-quarters of the NIH peer review process. This would bring reviews currently conducted by the other NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) under CSR. The change will primarily impact the review of more complex or more targeted awards, such as clinical trials, P- and U- award mechanisms, and Requests for Application (RFA) funded programs or those solicitations with special review.
  • A group of Senate Republicans launched a working group “to examine potential legislative reforms to the CDC so it can better respond to Americans’ health needs.” Members of this working group include Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Ron Johnson (R-WI), Mike Lee (R-UT), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Tim Scott (R-SC). By proposing solutions that will modernize the CDC, the working group hopes to “restore trust in the CDC and protect the health and safety of Americans.” The full press release can be found here.
  • The Office of Research has published a detailed set of guidelines for managing early grant termination; accessing the guidance document requires a BU login. The link is also posted on the Office of Research 2025 Administration Transition Information & Resources. This guidance outlines the steps that need to be taken by a PI/department/school and Sponsored Programs when an award is terminated by a federal sponsor, federal subaward is terminated by the prime sponsor, or a stop-work order is issued. Federal funding agencies have the right to terminate awards if the BU entity has failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the award, including project milestones, or if the award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities.
  • HHS is regularly updating a list of terminated HHS grants on the Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS). The website is functional mostly, and a link to the list is here.
  • Science is reporting that forthcoming Notice of Funding Opportunities will need to be approved by one HHS official and one DOGE official will approve for alignment with Administration priorities.
  • The BU Federal Relations website has an explainer about the FY2025 Continuing Resolution. It details the NIH and Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDRMP) budgets for the remainder of FY25.
  • If you want to see for yourself which NIH study sections and advisory councils are being scheduled, you can view Federal Register updates from the NIH.
  • An additional resource related to Federal data worth noting: Finding Federal Information and Data.

Boston University leadership and our Federal Relations team continue to monitor new directives on the information hub which aims to keep our community informed about how notifications and policies from the executive branch are being implemented at BU, with links to frequently asked questions about federally funded research; diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and immigration and safety.

Guidance from the University Office of Sponsored Programs remains unchanged. Any concerns by PIs about non-renewal of federal grant funding, stop work orders, or notices of funding “pauses” should be directed to Dean McClean. PIs should not take personnel actions in response to anticipated federal funding disruptions without prior consultation with and approval from Sponsored Programs, which Dean McClean will help facilitate.

All labor requests, travel, and external consultants on unrestricted funds (school money) and discretionary funds continue to fall under the budget controls and a request for approval is required. Please direct any questions to the Associate Dean for Administration and Finance, Dean Lazic at iralazic@bu.edu.

There are free programs from NCFDD in case you or anyone on your faculty is interested.

Navigating Uncertainty: Research Funding Strategies (this is for faculty and leaders).  April 8, 2-3 ET.  Here’s the registration link (it’s free, of course): Research Funding Strategies Webinar

Also the BU Office of Research Activities has published a new guide to managing online harassment has been published on the website.

Finally, I want to highlight upcoming opportunities to engage with our community:

Thank you for keeping at it during these challenging times. No fooling.

Michael D. Stein
Dean ad interim
mdstein@bu.edu

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