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RESEARCH NOTES
Essential updates and opportunities for the Brown research community
SEPTEMBER 2026
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
10th Annual Celebration of Research honors record high number of awardees
Brown’s premier research awards event honored more than double the number of awardees recognized last year, including 11 Research Achievement Awardees, 21 Salomon Awardees, and 53 Research Seed Awardees. The event shifted to the start of the fall semester to align with the launch of the 2027 internal funding cycle.
Read the story.
MESSAGE FROM THE VPR
Greetings,
Thank you to everyone who joined us at Sayles Hall last week for our 10th annual Celebration of Research. It was inspiring to recognize a record 85 awards across our Research Achievement Awards, Salomon Awards, and Seed Program—representing more than $3.5 million in internal funding. The collaborative energy in the room set a great tone for what promises to be another impactful year of discovery. Keep an eye out for this year’s internal funding opportunities to be announced in the coming weeks.
Building on that momentum, we are continuing our AI+X Networking Series in partnership with Associate Provost for Artificial Intelligence Michael Littman. Following successful spring sessions on mental health and the environment, our fall lineup bridges AI researchers with campus experts across priority disciplines—starting with AI + Omics on October 27, followed by AI + Humanities (date to be announced soon).
Finally, please mark your calendars for the 4th annual Innovation@Brown Showcase on Thursday, October 15, at 225 Dyer Street. Hosted by Brown Technology Innovations, this flagship event highlights emerging startups, commercialized breakthroughs, and live pitches for the Innovation of the Year Award. Please take a moment to register and learn more.
Cheers,
Greg Hirth
Vice President for Research
DIVISION OF RESEARCH TEAMS
BROWN TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS
Vote for Brown's Innovation of the Year 2026
Help choose BTI’s Innovation of the Year: The Top 10 finalists are now open to public voting through September 24 at 11:59 p.m. The Top 3 vote-getters will pitch live at the Innovation@Brown Showcase on October 15, and the audience will vote to select the winner.
Innovation@Brown Showcase - Oct. 15
Join us for the 4th annual Innovation@Brown Showcase, bringing together over 300 entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders from across the region. The 2026 event features a panel with Provost Frank Doyle and Brown Trustee Sangeeta Bhatia, 20+ exhibits highlighting translational research, pre-companies, and startups from Brown and the local ecosystem, along with flash talks, mini-pitches, and investor networking.
Innovation@Brown Showcase, Thursday, Oct. 15, 225 Dyer Street, Providence. Register to attend
Congratulations to the Brown Invents Startup Challenge winners
On Sept. 23 during Rhode Island Startup Week, Brown Technology Innovations hosted the Brown Invents Startup Challenge at 225 Dyer Street. Seven finalist teams competed in a live pitch competition for seed funding. Congratulations to first-place winner Kallithea Biotherapeutics, second-place Red Maple Lifesciences, and third-place TEEM Therapeutics! Meet the winners at the upcoming Innovation@Brown Showcase and learn about all participating startups.
Brown startup Lilac Biosciences receiving ARPA-H grant
Anubhav Tripathi (SoE) and Brown startup Lilac Biosciences are part of a team receiving an ARPA-H award of up to $39.2M, with up to $4.6M supporting Tripathi’s work, to develop automated, on-demand RNA medicine manufacturing and bring individualized therapies closer to patients.
RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION SYSTEMS
System downtimes for RAIS-supported platforms
System downtimes for RAIS-supported platforms—including Huron (Grants, Agreements, IRB) and InfoEd (Lab Animals, and Conflict of Interest)—are now visible on the RAIS Maintenance calendar. Check the calendar to view scheduled maintenance for specific dates and times.
RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
2026 Celebration of Research photo gallery
September 15, 2026—The Division of Research hosted its 10th annual Celebration of Research on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at Sayles Hall. Photos from the event include winners of the Research Achievement Awards, Salomon Awards, and Research Seed Awards.
RESEARCH INTEGRITY
Research security screening resource available
In July, the NSF announced a forthcoming policy prohibiting NSF funds from being expended on collaborations with entities on various U.S. restricted party lists. Brown’s research security team has access to specialized software that can assist with screening collaborators and their home institutions against these restricted lists. Contact ResearchSecurity@brown.edu to request a screening search.
BEARCORE Responsible Conduct of Research training course scheduled
BEARCORE will next be offered January 20-21, 2027. Register in Workday Learning (go to Learning and search "BEARCORE"). This course satisfies the NIH and NSF RCR requirements. Email Kyle Vieira with any questions.
BEARCORE, Wednesday-Thursday, Jan. 20-21. Register in Workday.
Changes to Iranian sanctions program
The Office of Foreign Assets Control suspended certain Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR) General Licenses (GLs) previously used for various academic and educational activities. As a reminder, all activities with comprehensively embargoed countries, specifically, Iran, Cuba, North Korea and the Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea regions of Ukraine, require advance review and approval by Export Control at ExportControl@brown.edu.
RESEARCH STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT
2027 Internal Funding Opportunities
Be on the lookout for 2027 Internal Funding Opportunities, including the Division of Research Seed Awards, Richard B. Salomon Faculty Research Awards, Humanities Research Funds, and Core Research Facilities Funds, as well as Research Achievement Awards. More details coming next month.
Webinar—Tracking the Landscape: Federal Science Policy and FY28 R&D Priorities
Join us for a virtual presentation on "Tracking the Landscape: Federal Science Policy and FY28 R&D Priorities." Experts from McAllister and Quinn, a federal grant consulting and government relations firm, will address changes in the federal funding landscape. Hosted by the Division of Research.
Tracking the Landscape, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 12pm. Register to attend
Fall AI + X Networking Events
The AI+X Networking Series—a networking program designed to bridge the gap between technical AI researchers and domain experts across campus—continues this fall. Investigators from all disciplines are invited to participate in upcoming sessions.
AI + Omics,
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 3-4pm. Register to attend
AI + Humanities, Date TBD. Register your interest
SPONSORED PROJECTS
Brown University SAM.gov registration is renewed
The federal System for Award Management (SAM.gov) registration has been completed. Brown's eligibility for all research award types is active through August 3, 2027. For other frequently requested proposal data, reference our proposal preparation information.
Supporting a safe and respectful workplace
The University has created policies and procedures that describe the community standards of conduct as well as the procedures for grievances and complaints alleging violations of its discrimination and harassment policies. Brown is committed to assisting researchers in complying with agency-specific requirements and regulations as detailed on the Reporting Discrimination and Harassment in Research web page.
FEDERAL UPDATES
DOE
PRIORITY: NEW Department of Energy Conflict of Interest and Commitment regulation
August 17, 2026—The Department of Energy released their updated conflict of interest and commitment regulation. The new regulation has significant changes, including shortening the deadline for submitting new financial interest information to 15 days and expanding conflict of commitment reporting and review. The DOE COI Training in Traincaster has been updated to reflect the new regulation, but application will be phased in through award modifications. Contact COI@brown.edu with any questions.
NIH
Supporting a safe and respectful workplace at institutions that receive NIH funding
August 12, 2026—Research environments free from harassment, bullying, retaliation, and other hostile working conditions are fundamental to the conduct of NIH-supported biomedical studies. Maintaining a safe, respectful, and professional workplace is a mandatory condition of every NIH award. Important updates to this policy are available (NOT-OD-26-097).
Feedback wanted on proposed changes to reporting peer review outcomes for applications
August 18, 2026—NIH is seeking public comment on proposed changes to the reporting of peer review outcomes for grant applications (NOT-OD-26-088). Comments will be accepted electronically until October 13, 2026.
NSF
NSF requests public comment on proposed Guidance on Financial Assistance (GFA)
June 24, 2026—The National Science Foundation published a Federal Register notice requesting public comment on draft Guidance on Financial Assistance (GFA), which will restructure and replace the current Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Stakeholders can review details and submit public comments through August 24, 2026.
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