A message to the campus from Mike Malone and Laura Vandenberg on 7/17/25
Dear Colleagues,
Please save the date for our sixth Research & Engagement Campus Listening Session, scheduled for Monday, August 4, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the LSL Conference Center, S340 (also available via Zoom). To receive a Zoom link, register here using [email protected] for your email.
Our federal research consulting firm, McAllister & Quinn, will have representatives present to give a brief overview of the federal budget as it impacts research.
Please submit questions ahead of time for us or the consulting firm so that we can make the best use of our time. Submit questions here.
Recent Updates
NIH No-Cost Extensions: Requesting no-cost extensions from NIH has become more complicated and more time-consuming. PIs need to clearly demonstrate how the funds and activities to be completed in the extension year align with the Institute’s priorities. PIs will need to prepare the following: a request letter that includes the period of time for the NCE, an accurate remaining balance for the award, a measurable amount of PI effort, and up-to-date compliance requirements; a budget that includes calculated indirect costs; and budget justification that matches the remaining balance. Preparing these documents will require that you work with your school/college grants office, your research accountant, and your Office of Post-Award Management (OPAM) specialist.
Grant reinstatements: We are very happy that several PIs have had their terminated grants reinstated, and we expect several more may be restored in the weeks ahead. If you hear from an agency that your grant termination is being reversed, please do not sign anything or communicate with the agency without first discussing with your OPAM specialist, who will assist you in reviewing the terms and conditions so that we can accept the award.
Agencies sending quick turn-around budget change requests: In the past week, we have seen a significant increase in the number of requests PIs have received from agencies that require very fast responses, often less than 24 hours. These requests are often related to grant budgets, and several have led to a release of funds, so it is critical that we respond to these urgent requests. PIs with submitted proposals and active awards are reminded to monitor your email for communications from agencies. To assist you in responding promptly, please forward all communications from federal agencies to The Office of Pre-Award Services (OPAS) (for proposals under review), the Office of Post-Award Management (OPAM) (for awards already received) and the VCRE office. If you are not certain who can assist you with a budgeting request, forward your message to all three: [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].
Research security training requirements: Starting August 1, 2025, all covered individuals (Principal Investigators, Co-Principal Investigators, Key Personnel, and other individuals named in proposals) must complete research security training before a proposal is submitted to any federal agency. A campus-wide communication about this requirement was sent on Monday, July 14, 2025, and instructions for how research support staff can assist with this requirement are also available. To review your training and disclosure requirements, please consult this new Research Compliance Training Matrix.
Updates to NSF Research Security Policies: The National Science Foundation (NSF) published a notice on July 10, 2025, outlining new and updated requirements related to research security. The notice introduces several key policy changes aimed at safeguarding the integrity of NSF-supported research, which include:
- Mandatory research security training (see communication)
- Prohibitions on participating in malign foreign talent recruitment programs (see this campus advisory on our policy)
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT): On July 2, 2025, the Department of Transportation released a statement to DOT funding recipients indicating that the agency would no longer be enforcing policies related to DEI and Climate Change that were included as terms and conditions on existing awards. PIs on DOT proposals and awards should contact OPAM with any questions about this change.
NIH statements on research using animal models: Several news reports have provided conflicting information following an FDA & NIH Workshop on Reducing Animal Testing. Some NIH officials announced that the agency would no longer award funding to new grant proposals solely relying on animal testing. Other notifications from the agency have provided more nuanced language, clarifying that all new Notices of Funding Opportunities that relate to animal models must now also support human-focused approaches such as clinical trials, real world data, or new approach methods (NAMs). The requirement to seek alternatives to animal models in research is long-standing. These recent announcements from the NIH and FDA reinforce the importance of seeking alternatives and demonstrate the agencies’ commitment to reducing the number of animals used in biomedical research. PIs should continue to read all Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) carefully to ensure you are meeting all proposal requirements around this topic.
Publishing work funded by NIH must be immediately available to the public: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Public Access Policy is now in effect (as of July 1, 2025). Researchers can view the new guide from UMass Libraries that outlines the policy and how to comply with it. It is critical that all researchers abide by the terms and conditions of their awards, including this one.
We understand how challenging the last few months have been, and hope that you have had a chance to rest, relax, and recharge. We extend our sincere thanks to UMass researchers who have continued to do excellent work despite the many disruptions affecting your scholarship and other aspects of your work and life. We also thank the many dedicated staff in departments, schools, colleges, OPAS, OPAM, and Research Accounting for assisting PIs in responding to inquiries from federal sponsors.
We look forward to connecting with you at the August listening session.
Sincerely,
Mike Malone
Vice Chancellor for Research & Engagement
Laura Vandenberg
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research & Engagement
Vice Provost for Research