Funding, News and Announcements

Dalhousie is in the process of adjusting to changes in US federal funding requirements. In the interim, ORS would like to alert researchers to the following new requirements to ensure compliance before the grant is awarded. Prior to grant submission to NIH or other US Federal Agencies, researchers must attest and comply with US Federal requirements before funds will be accepted by Dalhousie. This includes:

1. Reporting Documentation: New NIH policy requires foreign subrecipients to provide access to, at least once per year, copies of lab notebooks, data, and documentation that support research outcomes described in a progress report to the prime award recipient. Electronic copies will satisfy this requirement. Dalhousie researchers will need to follow the guidance outlined by the prime award recipient to meet this requirement. 

2. Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan: As of January 2023, submission of a Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan outlining how scientific data and any accompanying metadata will be managed and shared is required, considering any potential restrictions or limitations. The Plan must be approved by the funding NIH Institute, Center, or Office. Any changes to the DMS Plan require prior approval of the funder and the prime institution. 

• Researchers are encouraged to contact the RDM team at data.management@dal.ca for guidance and information on Research Data Management.

3. Support Disclosure: In some US Federal-funded programs, grant applicants are required to disclose all current and pending support that key personnel receive, as well as affiliations or relationships to foreign entities. This can include in-kind support (not just funded supports). The Disclosure Form may be required prior to award.

4. Cybersecurity and Travel Security: We anticipate that stringent cybersecurity and travel security compliance requirements may flow down from prime institutions. ORS recommends familiarizing yourself with the Safeguarding Your Research dashboard for good practices in research security. US Federal requirements may exceed Canadian research security requirements, and due diligence should be conducted to protect your research.

5. Covered Technologies: US federal requirements prohibit funded institutions from purchasing, having, or using certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment. All researchers should be aware of this prohibition and should avoid using or acquiring equipment from the listed entities within their research activities.