Research Notes

Research information from the Office of the Vice President for Research
for Brown faculty, grant-related staff, and students

What causes two people from opposing political parties to have strongly divergent interpretations of the same word, image or event? New Brown study finds that people who share a political ideology have more similar ‘neural fingerprints’ of political words and process new information in similar ways. Read more.

Office of Research Strategy and Development

Research and community engagement: view from NSF by Alicia J. Knoedler, NSF 
Learn about the importance of community engagement and partnerships in research with Alicia J. Knoedler, Office Head, Office of Integrative Activities, NSF. This virtual session will be March 1, 12-1pm. For more information and to register.

Community Engagement Council convening  
Join us on March 8, 8:30am - 1pm, for a strategy development convening about the University’s collaborations with local communities. Lunch will be provided. More information.

Two events with UNC Charlotte's Byron White, Assoc Provost for Urban Research and Community Engagement 
Both in-person events on February 28 in the Kasper Multipurpose Room: “Asset-Based Collective Impact Work for Educational Equity” at 10-11am: RSVP.  “Toward a Community-Centric University” at 1-2:15p: RSVP.

Resource: engaged scholarship and broader impacts  
Are you developing a proposal that requires a broader impact component, or looking to incorporate outreach and engaged scholarship activities into your research? See these resources from the Engaged Scholarship and Broader Impacts Working Group.

Research Development and Grant Writing Newsletter  
This newsletter offers strategies on how to compete successfully for research funding and highlights new funding opportunities. Catch up on past issues here.

Office of Sponsored Projects

New NSF PAPPG now in effect
The new NSF PAPPG has gone into effect on January 30, 2023. Please be sure to follow the new certification instructions for Biosketches and Current and Pending.

Safe and Inclusive Work Environment Requirement for NSF Proposals
NSF proposals that include off site research must include a Safe and Inclusive Work Environment plan in COEUS for OSP review.

Save the date for March OSP Brown Bag
The next Brown Bag training session is scheduled for March 23rd - if you have topics you’d like discussed please email Resadmin@brown.edu

NSF FastLane system decommissioning
The planned fade-out of NSF FastLane continues its incremental process. By the time we go to press, FastLane will have been removed as a submission option. Research.gov and grants.gov remain available for proposals. 

Technology Innovations

Brown Innovation Fellow Josephine Kalshoven is published
Brown Innovation Fellow Josephine Kalshoven’s story, “Connected Player”, has been published in Nature Futures, the award-winning science-fiction section of the publication. 

PedialyDX receives multiple accolades
PedialyDX, recently secured a $1.8M SBIR Phase 2 grant from NICHD, and an Exclusive License Agreement with Brown, that will allow them to conduct a 7-site study to conduct further research on their NOWS recognition device. 

Office of Research Integrity

NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing (DMS) in Effect
As of January 25, 2023 the NIH DMS Policy is in effect. The DMS Policy applies to all NIH research that results in the generation of scientific data. More information and a list of resources at Brown are available here.

New Restrictions on semiconductors
The US government has tightened controls on semiconductors and related materials exported to/shared with China. If your research involves these and collaboration with China, Hong Kong, or Macau, contact Brown’s Export Control Team.

Annual Conflict of Interest Disclosure Cycle launch
The Annual COI disclosure cycle starts February 9 and runs through March 13. Faculty and researchers disclose in InfoEd; staff disclose in Workday. Send your questions to coi@brown.edu.

Coming soon - Huron IRB Electronic Submission System
The new Huron IRB Electronic Submission System will go live in May 2023. The IRB/HRPP has developed a dedicated website with information about the launch, data preparation, and system training.

Data preparation for Huron IRB Electronic Submission System
In preparation for the transition into the electronic IRB system, the IRB/HRPP will email certain PIs on older study records to confirm if the study is still active. When contacted, respond quickly; lack of response may result in study closure.

Updated IRB PI and human subjects advisor guidance
The IRB/HRPP updated the guidance for Principal Investigators & Human Subjects Advisors to clarify their role and responsibilities.

New FDA Guidance on Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Compounds
The FDA released new guidance important for clinical research related to the development of human drugs containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds.