This week, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) reminded the research community of existing policies intended to protect research from foreign threats, as well as suggested new processes for facilitating employee/grantee/applicant compliance.

The NIH Notice (NOT-OD-19-114) highlights required disclosure of "all financial resources, whether Federal, non-Federal, commercial or institutional, available in direct support of an individual's research endeavors, including, but not limited to, research grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and/or institutional awards to ensure no scientific, budgetary or commitment overlap." The notice also outlines the requirement for disclosure of relevant activities that include a foreign component and any financial conflicts of interest.

The NSF Dear Colleague Letter on research protection acknowledges the importance of international collaboration; however, it also mentions increased risks of foreign theft of NSF funded research. The letter mentions renewed effort to make certain that existing requirements to disclose current and pending support information are known, understood and followed. NSF is also proposing use of an electronic format for submitting biosketches and launching an independent review of its practices related to open science and security. The NSF invites feedback to be sent to research-protection@nsf.gov. 

In the months ahead, Congress and the federal research agencies will continue to advance proposals, regulations, and new processes to address foreign threats to research. The higher education advocacy community, including FSU, is working closely with policymakers to make certain that both academic freedom and security of federally funded research are given appropriate consideration.