Research News - July 2008

 In the news

Yi-Xian Qin Named as One of Seven NYSTAR Distinguished Professors

Edward Reinfurt, Executive Director of the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), announced that Yi-Xian Qin, Director, Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory has been named one of NYSTAR’S distinguished professors. 

The award ($500,000.00 over three years) will be used to establish research platforms for noninvasive diagnosis and therapeutics in osteoporosis and tissue regeneration.

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS STUDY BROWN TIDE OUTBREAK IN LONG ISLAND WATERS

SoMAS and Southampton professor Chris Gobler and his graduate students are working on research related to the "Brown Tide" algal blooms affecting south shore bays of Long Island.  The students are performing experiments to better understand how the brown tide behaves and thrives. 

For complete article - Newsday, July 6, 2008

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 Essential Policy and Procedure Updates

NIH Implementation of Government-Wide Standard Terms and Conditions for Research Grants

Notice Number: NOT-OD-08-091
Release Date: July 3, 2008
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2008
Issued by: National Institutes of Health (NIH), (http://www.nih.gov)

On January 25th, 2008, the National Science & Technology Council (NSTC) announced an initiative of the Research Business Models (RBM) Subcommittee of the Committee on Science (CoS) to create greater consistency in the administration of Federal research awards.  Given the increasing complexity of interdisciplinary and interagency research, it has become increasingly important for Federal agencies to manage awards in a consistent fashion.

Under the initiative all research agencies would be able to utilize a standard core set of administrative terms and conditions on research and research-related awards that are subject to OMB Circular A–110, ‘‘Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations’’ (2 CFR Part 215) (see Federal Register. Vol. 73, No. 17, pages 4563-4567).

Research Terms and Conditions

The Research Terms and Conditions are largely based on the terms and conditions originally utilized by 98 research institutions participating in the Federal Demonstration Project (FDP), and termed "expanded authorities".  NIH previously implemented Expanded Authorities (with the exception of automatic carryover of unobligated balances) as the standard terms and conditions for all NIH grant awards (NOT-OD-01-070).  Consequently, NIH implementation of these Federal-wide Research Terms has no significant change in the requirements or terms and conditions for NIH awardees.  Participants in the FDP will notice that the specific FDP award footnote has been changed to remove reference to FDP Terms but still references FDP participation.

The Government-wide core set of administrative requirements and other documents pertinent to this RBM initiative are posed on the National Science Foundation (NSF) website at:  http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/rtc/index.jsp.   Grantees are encouraged to review the companion documents which include a Prior Approval Matrix, National Policy Requirements Matrix, Subaward Requirements Matrix, and Agency-specific Requirements.  NIH Agency-specific Requirements are found at:

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/rtc/nih_708.pdf

Reference to these Federal-wide Research Terms and all corresponding documents is now included on the Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website:  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/awardconditions.htm

Questions about this Notice should be directed to:
Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration
Office of Extramural Research
National Institutes of Health
Telephone: 301-435-0949
Email: Grantspolicy@mail.nih.gov

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NIH Announces Critical Changes to Enhance and Improve Peer Review System

NNIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., announced  "critical changes to enhance and improve the NIH peer review  system." This marks the end of a year-long effort to determine ways to strengthen NIH peer  review. The Implementation Plan Report consists of four main priorities and highlights  include:

• Priority 1 - Engage the Best Reviewers: Increase flexibility of service, formally  acknowledge reviewer efforts, further compensate time and effort
• Priority 2 - Improve Quality and Transparency of Reviews
• Priority 3 - Ensure Balanced and Fair Reviews Across Scientific Fields
  and Career Stages 
• Priority 4 - Develop a Permanent Process for Continuous Review of Peer
  Review.

Proposals rejected include a mandated minimum effort, restricts on multiple
awards, a bar on  amended applications, and the creation a "not recommended
for resubmission" classification.
 
For more information:
http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jun2008/od-06.htm
http://enhancing-peer-review.nih.gov/

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First 3 Funding Opportunities Identified to Pilot From PureEdge to Adobe-based Grant Applications

NIH has identified three Funding Opportunities Announcements (FOAs) to pilot the transition from PureEdge to Adobe-based grant application forms, as detailed in the May 23, 2008 NIH Guide notice (NOT-OD-08-073). Each of the pilot FOAs have application due dates in mid to late October.

• RFA-AI-08-020  Immune Defense Mechanisms at the Mucosa (R21)
• RFA-DE-09-001  Harnessing Inflammation for Reconstruction of Oral and Craniofacial Tissues (R01)
• RFA-DE-09-002  Harnessing Inflammation for Reconstruction of Oral and Craniofacial Tissues (R21)

The NIH SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Adobe forms will be available on or before August 1, 2008.

NIH FAQs on the transition to the Adobe forms may be found at: http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/faq_special.htm.

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New GSA Directive Affects NIH Reimbursement Process for New Reviewers and Reviewers Up for CCR Renewal

Notice Number: NOT-OD-08-075
Release Date: May 23, 2008
Issued by: National Institutes of Health (NIH), (http://www.nih.gov)

In accordance with a recent General Services Administration (GSA) directive, NIH will discontinue use of the U. S. Treasury Central Contractor Registration (CCR) for electronic disbursement of reviewers’ honoraria and reimbursements for expenses incurred during their participation in NIH peer review meetings.  NIH is diligently seeking a new, efficient reimbursement system. However, effective immediately and through September 30, 2008, the following interim solution will be implemented:

• Reviewers whose CCR registration is active at the time of reimbursement will continue to receive payment via direct deposit.
• Reviewers who are not registered with CCR (or whose registration has expired) will be issued a check from a government contractor, World Travel Services, Inc. (WTS) for this fiscal year only (October 1, 2007, to September 30, 2008).  The check will be sent to the residential mailing address on file in the eRA Commons.
• Reviewers do not need to renew their CCR registration once it expires.  Reviewers should ignore emails from CCR prompting them to renew their registration. 

Reviewers can check the status of their CCR registration at www.ccr.gov, by following these instructions:

• Click on “Search CCR” located on the left side of the page.
• Enter their DUNS number.
• Click on “Search”.
• View the registration status located at the top of the page.

NIH is committed to ensuring that all reviewers receive their disbursements as efficiently as possible, and is working to develop a new system to facilitate this process.  Additional information will be forthcoming.  Thank you for your continued support of the NIH peer review process during this transition.

Inquiries: Questions may be directed to Dr. Sally Amero, NIH Review Policy Officer, Office of Extramural Research, NIH (301-435-1418; ameros@od.nih.gov).

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NIH Updates FAQs on Financial Conflict Of Interest requirements For All NIH-supported Institutions

Notice Number: NOT-OD-08-063, Issued by National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Extramural Research (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm)

Release Date: April 10, 2008 

This Notice announces the availability of updated and expanded FAQs related to the Responsibility of Applicants for Promoting Objectivity in Research for which PHS Funding is Sought as described in Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50, Subpart F (for grants and cooperative agreements) and Responsible Prospective Contractors as described in Title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 94 (for contracts).

Given the increasing complexity of the financial interests held by biomedical researchers, the Public Health Service (PHS) and the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) published two regulations in 1995 establishing standards and procedures to be followed by institutions that apply for research funding from PHS agencies, including the NIH. The regulation is aimed at ensuring that the design, conduct, or reporting of research funded under grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts will not be biased by any conflicting financial interest of the investigators responsible for the research. 

As part of NIH’s continuing educational efforts to improve and enhance compliance with FCOI requirements, we compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding the implementation of these regulations.  We hope these will clarify issues that may arise. The FAQs may be accessed on the Office of Extramural Research, Conflict of Interest Page at:  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/coi/index.htm.  

Inquiries

Grants: Division of Grants Compliance and Oversight,
Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration,
OER National Institutes of Health
Telephone: 301-435-0949
Email: FCOICompliance@od.nih.gov

Contracts: Darryl S. Grant Procurement Analyst,
Division of Acquisition Policy and Evaluation,
Office of Acquisition Management and Policy
Telephone: (301) 496-2874
Email: grantda@od.nih.gov

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-063.html

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NIH LAUNCHES WEBSITE FOCUSED ON USE OF ANIMALS IN RESEARCH

The NIH recently launched a new website focused the use of animals in research.

The website contains information on the use of animals in research and on policies and regulations concerning the use of animals in research. There is also a very valuable section devoted to disaster planning and response to emergencies that involve or endanger animals, including information concerning contacts at NIH who can be called on for assistance.

The website is described in a recent issue of the NIH “nexus” and a link to the site is provided in the Nexus piece:
http://nexus.od.nih.gov/nexus/nexus.aspx?Month=6&Year=2008

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NEW MILEAGE RATES EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2008 RELEASED BY IRS

The IRS has released new mileage rates effective July 1, 2008 for the second half of 2008. Both business and moving expense mileage reimbursement rates are increasing by 8 cents, as follows:

•  $.585 for business miles traveled
•  $.270 for miles driven for medical or moving purposes
•  $.140 for miles driven in service of charitable organizations

Refer to portal procedure on travel and Travel Schedule 1 - IRS Reimbursement Rates..

•  For questions on RF travel policy contact Sandra George 518 434-7030
• For questions on tax and reporting compliance (including moving expense reimbursements) contact Ned Gellner  518 434-7042

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Announcing Direct Deposit Option For Employee Advances/ reimbursements Made Through Research Foundation Accounts Payable

As part of its continuing efforts to improve efficiencies and cut costs, the Research Foundation is proud to announce a new secure option for payment of employee travel expenses, advances and/or reimbursements made through Accounts Payable. The Automated Clearing House (ACH) Disbursement Program, otherwise known as direct deposit, will allow enrolled personnel to electronically receive funds into the bank account of their choice for payment of employee advances and/or reimbursements.
 
Any staff person requesting direct deposit for these types of payments must, according to Federal regulations, complete the ACH Payment Enrollment Form.
 
The instructions and ACH Payment Enrollment Form can be found on the following website:
https://portal.rfsuny.org/portal/page/portal/Accounts_Payable/Forms2/Alternate%20Payment%20Methods/ACH%20Payment%20Enrollment%20Form.pdf
 
Disclaimer: Federal Banking regulations require separate enrollment forms for each electronic banking process. Enrollment in Payroll Direct Deposit is not automatic enrollment in the ACH Disbursement Program. ACH Enrollment will begin with the next payment following enrollment form submission.

Benefits of the ACH Program
Stop waiting in line to deposit or cash checks, Virtually eliminate bank hold-time, Receive electronic notification of payments Reduce paper waste.

Please contact Porshia Russell @ 2-6019 should you have any questions.

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