Research Funding Update

Colleagues,

The FAMU Division of Research wishes you a safe and restful Spring Break.

Concerning the activity around Federal guidance on research funding, developments are occurring almost every day.

The nationwide total halt to research funding which involves DEIA and other OMB disfavored research topics (such as Climate Change), has been indefinitely blocked by Federal Courts. However, individual Federal Funding Agency actions are still allowed.

For example, a Federal grant involving Climate Studies, wherein FAMU is a subcontractor, experienced a spending freeze this week. Note the grant was not terminated. Several such halts have occurred and then were restarted after a short halt.

Also, involving the F&A rate reduction for NIH grants:

“Judge Angel Kelley of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts yesterday issued a preliminary injunction halting the implementation, application, or enforcement of the NIH’s February 7 supplemental guidance imposing a cap of 15% on F&A costs. The injunction applies to all institutions nationwide.”

As we have previously indicated, the FAMU Division of Research is following the rapidly changing developments. I am going to increase the cadence for reporting developments around these issues.

If you have questions on any topic involving research funding, please forward your questions to me—we will do our best to answer them. Also, please report to me, any communications with your funding agencies involving these research funding topics.

Thank you. Please continue with your research, student training, and research spending.

Charles

Charles A. Weatherford, PhD
Vice President for Research
Director of the FAMU Research Foundation
Professor of Physics and Director of
Center for Plasma Science and Technology
Florida A&M University
charles.weatherford@famu.edu