Federal agencies have released several notices impacting research security and administrative requirements for proposals and awards.\u00a0 These updates align with the NSPM-33 directive and CHIPS Act to protect U.S. research and reduce administrative burden and strengthen compliance across federally funded research.\u00a0 Below is a summary of the latest notices from NIH and NSF. BU specific details providing guidance on compliance are included as applicable.<\/p>\n
Effective October 1, 2025, recipients must implement trainings, in addition to written and enforced policy, on the requirements of the disclosure of other support to ensure Senior\/Key Personnel fully understand their responsibility to disclose all resources made available to them in support or related to their research endeavors.<\/p>\n
Read the full notice here<\/strong>: NIH NOT-OD-25-133<\/a><\/p>\n Boston University\u2019s guidance regarding federal disclosure requirements can be found here<\/a>. The Other Support Training requirement is satisfied by completion of the CITI Research Security (Combined) Training.<\/a> The University required all researchers who engage in sponsored research to complete this training by June 30, 2025.<\/p>\n Starting with funding applications due on or after May 25, 2026<\/strong>, NIH will require:<\/p>\n Read the full notice here:<\/strong> NIH NOT-OD-26-017<\/a><\/p>\n Boston University required<\/a> all researchers who engage in sponsored research to complete the CITI<\/a> Research Security Combined Training by June 30, 2025. Completing this training satisfies the NIH requirements in this notice.\u00a0 PIs certify this training has been completed for all covered personnel via their signature on the Proposal Summary Form for each proposal.<\/p>\n Effective January 25, 2026<\/strong>, NIH will require:<\/p>\n Read the full notice here:<\/strong> NIH NOT-OD-26-018<\/a><\/p>\n Boston University\u2019s policy<\/a> prohibits all researchers, regardless of funding source, from participating in a malign foreign talent recruitment program (MFTRP). BU\u2019s policy complies with NIH\u2019s notice. Please contact the Research Security Office at ressec@bu.edu<\/a> if you have questions about MFTRPs. Boston University\u2019s guidance on MFTRP can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Effective December 2, 2025<\/strong>, NSF requires:<\/p>\n Read the full notice:<\/strong> https:\/\/www.nsf.gov\/pubs\/2025\/importantnotice149.jsp<\/a><\/p>\n Boston University required<\/a> all researchers who engage in sponsored research to complete the CITI<\/a> Research Security Combined Training by June 30, 2025. Completing this required training satisfies NSF\u2019s requirements in this notice.\u00a0 PIs certify this training has been completed for all covered personnel via their signature on the Proposal Summary Form for each proposal.<\/p>\n Boston University\u2019s policy<\/a> prohibits all researchers, regardless of funding source from participating in a malign foreign talent program. BU\u2019s policy complies with NSF\u2019s requirements in this notice. Please contact the Research Security Office at ressec@bu.edu<\/a> if you have questions about MFTRPs. Boston University\u2019s guidance on MFTRP can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Increasingly, Chinese talent agencies are reaching out to researchers to establish international collaborations and offering project-aligned funding with lab and equipment access, competitive compensation packages , and remote-friendly setup with optional site visits. \u00a0In the past year, BU researchers have received Foreign Talent Recruitment communications in the form of flyers or direct email. Some examples are below:<\/p>\n While not all FTRPs are prohibited, any participation in a FTRP must be disclosed to your federal sponsors and to BU in your EIAR and your FCOI disclosure in Huron. FTRPs that are prohibited are listed in Section 1286 of the National Defense Authorization Act \u00a0(Public Law 115-232)<\/a>, also known as the NDAA 1286 List.<\/p>\n Boston University\u2019s policy<\/a> prohibits all researchers, regardless of funding sources from participating in a malign foreign talent program. Please contact the Research Security Office at ressec@bu.edu<\/a> if you have questions about MFTRPs. Boston University\u2019s guidance on MFTRP can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n NIH policy on Enhancing Security Measures for Human Biospecimens, NIH- NOT-OD-25-160, effective October 24, 2025, \u00a0prohibits distribution of\u00a0human biospecimens<\/a>\u00a0of U.S. persons by any entity (e.g., biorepository, institution, investigator) to institutions or parties located in Countries of Concern, defined by the policy as China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela. The policy is applicable to all human clinical and research biospecimens obtained from U.S. persons (regardless of identifiability) that are collected, obtained, stored, used, or distributed with ongoing or new NIH funding. The policy aims to protect sensitive personal health data from misuse by foreign adversaries and is in line with the DOJ\u2019s\u00a0Final Rule<\/a>\u00a0Preventing Access to U.S. Sensitive Personal Data and Government-Related Data.<\/p>\nNOT-OD-26-017: Research Security Training<\/h3>\n
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NOT-OD-26-018: Common Forms for Biosketch and Other Support<\/h3>\n
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NSF Update<\/h2>\n
Important Notice No. 149: Research Security Policies<\/h3>\n
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Foreign Talent Recruitment Program (FTRP) Practices<\/h2>\n
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Research Security and Export Control: NIH Policy on Enhancing Security Measures for Human Biospecimens<\/h2>\n
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