Updates from Sponsored Programs to BU’s research community.
New Annual Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program Certification for PIs/Co-PIs in Research.gov
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a new annual certification requirement for Principal Investigators (PIs) and co-Principal Investigators (co-PIs) regarding Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs (MTFRP). Details of the new policy are below. Starting on June 7, 2025, in accordance with the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) Chapter II.D.1.e(ii), […]
Memo: Lab Animal Per Diem Rate Changes
TO: Boston University Deans, Department Chairs, Principal Investigators, Department Administrators, and Grant Administrators FROM: Thomas Bifano, Vice President and Associate Provost ad interim for Research Karen Antman, Medical Campus Provost and Dean, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine DATE: May 29, 2025 SUBJECT: Lab Animal Per Diem Rate Changes Boston University is committed to efficiently […]
Sponsored Programs Proposal Deadline and Fiscal Year End Reminders
Please review important upcoming dates and deadlines below, and reach out to your Pre- or Post-Award Officer with questions. Pre-Award Summer deadlines for National Institutes of Health (NIH) proposals (June 5, 12, and 16; July 5, 12, and 16; August 8, etc.) are upon us. Proposal volume is always high this time of year. If […]
NIH Policy Update on Foreign Subawards
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has released an update to its policy on foreign subawards. In summary, NIH will not issue awards to domestic or foreign entities (new, renewal or non-competing continuation), that include a subaward to a foreign entity effective May 1, 2025. Additionally, NIH will no longer accept prior approval requests to […]
NIH Automatic NCE Link Removed in eRA Commons
On May 7, National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that they have temporarily disabled the No-Cost Extension (NCE) functionality in eRA Commons. Details of the notice in full are below. “This notice alerts the extramural community that NIH has temporarily disabled the No-Cost Extension functionality in eRA Commons. The Director of NIH has directed NIH […]
Memo: Enhancing Participant Privacy and Confidentiality
TO: Boston University Faculty, Staff and Graduate Students FROM: The Charles River Campus Institutional Review Board DATE: May 6, 2025 SUBJECT: Enhancing Participant Privacy and Confidentiality Recent federal actions and proposals have raised new concerns about privacy among Boston University researchers and research participants. During this time of transition, the BU Charles River Campus Institutional […]
NSF F&A Update and Guidance
Update for planned proposals to NSF as of 5/15/2025: As the NSF 15% F&A cap is being challenged in court, we learned that NSF will not reject outright any new proposals submitted to NSF at negotiated F&A rates simply because they do not comply with the new rate cap policy. Therefore, we are lifting the […]
NIH Notice of Civil Rights Term and Condition of Award
On April 21, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued a Notice of Civil Rights Term and Condition of Award modifying the terms and conditions for NIH grants and agreements related to diversity, equity and inclusion and related concepts and discriminatory prohibited boycotts. No action is needed from you at this time. Please continue to […]
Department of Energy (DOE) F&A Announcement and Additional Guidance for BU Faculty and Staff
Last Friday evening, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced a new policy action cutting the F&A rate of federal research grants to 15% for colleges and universities. Today, the University received additional guidance identifying the prime awards impacted by this policy change and requesting the University to confirm acceptance of the 15% F&A rate by […]
Personnel Activity Reports (PARs) are Due in Three Weeks
PARS for the period: July – December 2024 are due back to effort reporting (effort@bu.edu) on Friday, May 9th, 2025. Any PAR received after this date runs the risk of disallowance. Please contact effort@bu.edu with questions. If you are not paid from Sponsored Research funds this does not apply to you.