New! NIH Webinar: Understanding NIH's Unified Funding Strategy- What the Research Community Needs to Know

Friday, August 14, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

The agency intends to clarify the unified funding strategy's rationale, goals, and implementation; address misconceptions; and foster communication between NIH staff and applicants, recipients, researchers, and the wider research community. For a full description of the event, see NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-26-099.

GW Privacy Office Webinar: When Algorithms Go to Work- Privacy on the Line

Monday, August 17, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents significant benefits. AI can assist with our daily operations, such as automating processes, increasing productivity, providing advanced data analysis and forecasting. But the use of AI also comes with privacy considerations and inherent risks. AI models are trained using an enormous amount of data and are very intransparent. So we have very little control over what personal information is collected by AI, what it is used for, and how we might correct or remove such personal information. This webinar will review the university's privacy guidance and requirements applicable to the use of Artificial Intelligence technologies.

New! Virginia Tech Certified Research Administrator Study Group

Beginning Wednesday, August 19, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

During the 10-week cohort, live study sessions occur every Wednesday via Zoom, 2:00-4:00 PM EST. Not all sessions will last the full two-hour time frame. Sessions are recorded and posted to a secure site for study team members.

Session topics include an overview of CRA Study Team, fundamentals of research
NSF/NIH foundations, other federal agencies (DOD, DOE, NASA, USDA), financial administration, federal contracting, Uniform Guidance, biosafety, human subjects, conflict of interest, export controls, intellectual property, animal subjects, clinical trials, and a final review.

During the 10-week cohort, study team members will also receive CRA-a-Day emails with extra review material. To join the study group cohort, email cra@vt.edu.

New! CITI Webinar: Research Security and Recordkeeping

Thursday, August 20, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

This webinar is intended to provide individuals responsible for research security at institutions with information on how to efficiently run a research security program in the current environment, with a specific focus on recordkeeping. The webinar will begin with a quick review of the current state of research security implementation. The webinar will continue with a review of recordkeeping best practices and scenarios.

New! Streamlyne Webinar: AI In Research Administration- Better Prompting- The Skill That Unlocks Everything AI Can Do for You

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

In our previous webinars, we explored leading AI tools, basic prompting and building workflows and skills. This time, we will take you a step further by sharing strategies to take your prompting skills to the next level. Attendance to previous webinars is not required. The difference between a frustrating AI experience and a game-changing one? It's all in the prompt. Most people type a quick question, get a mediocre answer, and walk away unimpressed. But research administrators who master prompting get precise, reliable, professional-grade results—the kind that actually save time and hold up to scrutiny. Join us for a practical, technique-driven webinar where you'll learn the art and science of better prompting—so you can get exactly what you need from AI, every time.

New! Hanover Grants Webinar: Artificial Intelligence in Grant Prospecting and Development 

Thursday, August 27, 2026 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

AI is rapidly changing the way organizations identify and pursue grant funding, offering tools that can save time and enhance your strategy if used thoughtfully. Understanding how to apply these tools can give you a significant edge in today’s competitive landscape. 

This session provides an overview of key areas where AI can be leveraged in the grant prospecting and proposal development process.

New! Cayuse Webinar: Digital Transformation for Research Excellence- Lessons from the Field

Thursday, September 10, 2026 | 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, research institutions are redefining what it means to achieve excellence. As organizations face new challenges and uncertainty, technology has played a significant role in driving institutional efficiency, fostering cross-departmental collaboration, and facilitating strategic growth. Drawing on real-world experiences, we’ll discuss best practices in developing an effective strategy for undertaking complicated, large-scale implementations and how visionary leadership, strategic investment, and a culture of adaptability drive success. This webinar will cover building digital-ready research ecosystems, managing change and engaging stakeholders during system transitions, measuring the organizational impact of technology initiatives, and more.

NCURA Webinar: Do We Have Enough Staff? Using Workload Data to Inform Staffing Decisions

Monday, September 14, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

One of the most common challenges facing research administration leaders is determining whether current staffing levels align with the work that needs to be accomplished. Yet research administration work is often complex, variable, and difficult to quantify using traditional workload measures. This practical webinar will explore approaches for assessing workload, evaluating staffing needs, and using data to support resource decisions. Participants will learn about different workload distribution and staffing models used across research administration offices, including centralized, decentralized, and hybrid approaches. The session will focus on identifying meaningful workload indicators, collecting and analyzing data, and advocating for actionable staffing recommendations.

Note: OSP is pleased to provide complimentary registration for this webinar for CRAG members. You must have an NCURA profile to register using the GW-specific registration link through the button below. If you do not already have an NCURA profile, you must create one prior to registering for this webinar.

New! Scheduled myResearch Monthly Maintenance

From Saturday, August 15th at 2:30pm to Sunday, August 16th at 12:30am myResearch will undergo scheduled monthly maintenance. During these hours, myResearch will be available to users, but may face periods of downtime lasting 15 minutes, or slow performance. For support with myResearch, submit an Ask OVPR ticket.

Department of Defense Suspends CMMC Phase II Requirements

The Department of Defense (DOD, also known as the Department of War) announced the immediate suspension of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Phase II requirements on July 13, 2026, which were originally scheduled to come into effect on November 10, 2026. All Phase I self-assessment requirements remain firmly in place. Effective immediately, DOD will suspend the transition to Phase II requirements of CMMC, as well as pending and future CMMC implementation milestones across DOD solicitations and contracts.

Request for Public Comment on Draft NSF Guidance on Financial Assistance

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has requested public comment on the draft NSF Guidance on Financial Assistance (GFA), which will replace the current Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). You can find the notice in the Federal Register. Comments can be submitted through August 24, 2026. 

Now in Effect! Coming August 5, 2026: NASA Requirements for Research Security Training and Use of Common Forms

On February 5, 2026, NASA Grants Policy and Compliance released a Grant Information Circular (GIC) 26-02 on NASA Research Security Training Requirements. In short, GIC 26-02 states that starting August 5, 2026, “covered individuals” on federal financial assistance awards (grants and cooperative agreements applicants/recipients), must certify to NASA they have taken research security training prior to submission of proposals. This training requirement and certification does not apply to civil servants and contractors who propose to or are funded by NASA.

Potential proposers for NASA financial assistance funding are encouraged to take the training (see second bullet point below) well in advance of the NASA proposal due date.

Questions may be directed to: hq-dl-grants-policy-compliance@mail.nasa.gov and hq-researchsecurity@mail.nasa.gov.

Implementation Update: NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan Requirements

On July 29, 2026, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued notice NOT-OD-26-100 which provides an update to the research community on forms changes when NIH transitions to the updated Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan format which includes reporting changes to previously approved DMS Plans. Beginning in FY 2027, NIH will require all existing awards and applications subject to the NIH DMS Policy to transition and align with the updated DMS Plan format. This requirement applies regardless of when the competing application was submitted. Expected transition and reporting requirements for adoption of the updated DMS Plan Format are available in the guide notice. 

NIH Announces Changes to NIGMS Institutional Basic Biomedical and Clinician Scientist Training Programs

On July 29, 2026, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued notice NOT-GM-26-007 which announces changes to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) predoctoral and postdoctoral institutional training programs for future biomedical researchers and clinician scientists. Beginning with the January 25, 2027 due date, NIGMS will accept competing institutional predoctoral basic biomedical research training applications through the Parent T32 funding opportunity instead of an NIGMS-specific funding opportunity. Additionally, effective immediately, postdoctoral training grants (T32) for clinician scientists conducting research in NIGMS-mission clinical areas should be submitted to the Parent K12 NOFO.

NIH Announces Transition of Letters of Support to Letters of Collaboration with Implementation of Forms J

On July 27, 2026, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued notice NOT-OD-26-094 which announces that, with the implementation of Forms J in Fiscal Year 2027, NIH will no longer allow letters of support but will instead require letters of collaboration to document any collaborative relationships with individuals that are not identified in the application as senior/key personnel or other significant contributors. NIH will revise the application forms along with instructions to replace "Letters of Support" with "Letters of Collaboration." Further details will be issued prior to implementation. An exact implementation date has not been announced. 

NIH Rescinds the HHS Annual SBIR and STTR Application/Proposal Limit

On July 10, 2026, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued notice NOT-OD-26-090 which rescinds the HHS Annual SBIR/STTR Application/Proposal Limit previously announced in NOT-OD-26-073.

The rescinded policy stated that HHS will accept a maximum of nine new, renewal, resubmission, or revision applications (including grants, cooperative agreements, and contract proposals) from a Small Business Concern, including its affiliates, in a fiscal year. The updated policy states that HHS will accept a maximum of nine new and resubmission Phase I, Fast-track, and Direct to Phase II applications (including grants, cooperative agreements) and contract proposals from a Small Business Concern in a fiscal year. This policy applies to all SBIR and STTR activity codes. 

NIH Rescinds the New Threshold for Subawards and the 15% De Minimis Rate

On April 20, 2026, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) notice NOT-OD-26-72 rescinds two important flexibilities allowed in the 2024 Uniform Guidance revisions. The flexibilities were effective for awards starting on or after October 1, 2024; and were effectively implemented by NIH on October 1, 2024 (NOT-OD-25-059). The subaward threshold up to $50,000 is reverting back to $25,000. The 15% de minimis rate is reverting back to 10%. This blog post by Attain Partners discusses these changes. 

Most OSP Resources are located on the Education and Training SharePoint site. To access the site, you will need to use your GW Single Sign On credentials. If you need any assistance finding a resource, or require help to access the Education and Training SharePoint site, please contact OSP_EandT@gwu.edu.