Dear UConn and UConn Health Researchers,
OVPR provides two important research security updates that are relevant to all researchers funded by federal sponsors.
Mandatory Research Security Training
The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 requires that PIs and key personnel complete annual research security training on an implementation schedule to be driven by federal funding agencies. Following this law, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have all released research security training requirements over the summer effective either October 2025 or, in the case of the USDA, effective immediately at the discretion of the agency. The Department of Energy has already implemented its research security training requirement effective May 1, 2025.
To meet this research security training requirement, all Principal Investigators and key personnel included on a sponsored program proposal must complete research security training by October 1, 2025 or before any proposal submission thereafter. Training certification requires that all investigators and key personnel listed on the proposal have completed research security training within one year prior to proposal submission. Any new key personnel added to the project must also certify that they have completed the training within 30 calendar days of joining the project. Going forward, research security training must be refreshed annually to certify completion within twelve months prior to proposal submission.
A particular RFP or agency may have additional requirements or shortened deadlines as part of proposal submission, such as that all participants on a project certify completion of research security training or, in the case of the USDA, a training requirement effective immediately. Please review your RFP for specific requirements or ask UConn’s Sponsor Program Services (SPS).
SPS cannot submit a proposal if the key personnel have not met all the proposal’s certification requirements, including research security training by the deadline mandated by the sponsoring agency.
Training: Research security training is currently open to all UConn and UConn Health employees to meet this requirement. It is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to understand behaviors that have led to improper or illegal transfers of U.S. government-supported research and development (R&D) based on incidents reported by federal research agencies. The training will also highlight the critical role of U.S. researchers in global scientific discoveries and the importance of attracting international talent to U.S. research institutions.
UConn is using the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program’s “Research Security Training (Combined)” module to meet this training requirement. This CITI training module has been developed specifically for IHE researchers as a condensed version of NSF’s four-hour Research Security Training modules. Please allow yourself 1.5 hours to complete the CITI training. You can complete the training in stages and save your progress.
To complete the training, go to Research Security Training | Office of the Vice President for Research for step-by-step instructions on accessing the training through the CITI Program for both UConn Storrs/Regional and UConn Health researchers.
Your Completion Record will automatically be shared with OVPR SPS and will also be accessible to you and SPS at any time from the CITI Program.
New Record-Keeping Requirements by Federal Agencies
Several federal agencies have recently made announcements regarding record-keeping requirements related to research security, including disclosure of foreign affiliations, appointments, contracts/agreements, and funding support.
These agency-specific research security announcements include:
· NSF: NSF proposers and recipients are required to maintain supporting documentation, to be produced upon request, of all reported current and other support for senior and key personnel, including copies of contracts, grants, and agreements for foreign appointments, employment with a foreign institution, and participation in a foreign talent recruitment program (even if not meeting the definition of a malign foreign talent recruitment program). Proposers and recipients are expected to review requested supporting documentation for compliance with NSF award terms and conditions.
· NIH: NIH Senior/Key Personnel must complete training on the disclosure of all research activities and affiliations, both active and pending and regardless of monetary value or affiliated institution, as Other Support. This applies to the “Just-in-Time Procedures” and also informs the completion of the biosketch and facilities/equipment access at the time of proposal. SPS has detailed information on completing “Other Support” and required forms on its website. Specifics on the additional Other Support training for this NIH requirement will be forthcoming to NIH researchers.
· USDA: Per an internal memorandum, USDA applicants of research awards will have a number of new requirements, including certification that they are not contracting or providing funded or unfunded work to a foreign person or entity, disclosure of all contracts associated with programs sponsored by foreign governments or foreign entities, and disclosures of the citizenship of all personnel working on the USDA-funded award. UConn must prohibit applicants who have participated in a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program in the past 10 years from working on USDA research awards. Talent recruitment program screening will be conducted with specific impacted researchers when applicable.
Thank you for your attention to these important new requirements. Your cooperation is essential in meeting these new research security requirements and maintaining the highest standards of compliance at UConn.
For more information, contact: Research Security at researchsecurity@uconn.edu