A national nonprofit organization advancing research ethics through education, certification, and community.

More Than 500 PRIM&R Members Attend Federal Policy Briefing

Last Thursday, PRIM&R held a Federal Policy Briefing for Members to inform and connect the PRIM&R community with our public policy work, as well as make leading experts available to you.

Mark Barnes, a partner at Ropes & Gray, joined PRIM&R for last week’s policy briefing to provide insights into the new political landscape affecting the research community. “The multiple executive orders and agency directives that have been issued about DEI initiatives and other policy matters remain a work in progress, and we don’t know the ultimate form these will take,” Barnes said. “As a research community, we must stay alert to all the inevitable twists and turns these orders will take, both due to court interventions and to our ongoing conversations with funding and regulatory agency leaders.”

“Researchers, IRBs, research staff and sponsored research offices will be affected, but exactly how and when, we don’t yet know,” Barnes said. “I would suggest everyone pay closest attention to the specific agencies that fund our research and to our individual program officers as we navigate new policies.”

More than 500 PRIM&R members attended the online, live Federal Policy Briefing.

“We must remember that as citizens, we need to speak up if we see threats to science and sound public policy; if unified and reasoned, our voices will be heard,” Barnes said, summing up the policy briefing.

NIH Caps ‘Indirect Costs’

PRIM&R is concerned with NIH’s recent supplemental guidance that caps all current and future indirect costs at 15%. NIH funds research from the very beginning of an idea to the treatment and cure of life-threatening disease affecting our neighbors and families. These caps potentially impact current and future access to important medical interventions and treatments.

The health and healthcare of the American population depends upon research. Indirect costs affected by this cap include the essential functions required to support research and are the way our government invests in research infrastructure. They are the real costs of supporting research: resources for buildings, labs, and staff who support research. These NIH caps could potentially include any research infrastructure which performs an essential function in research oversight.

Federal Judge Halts Trump Administration Cuts to

NIH Research Payments in 22 States

Attorneys general representing 22 states sued the Trump administration on Monday, asking a federal judge to temporarily block a major policy change by the National Institutes of Health that would substantially limit payments for research overhead to universities, medical centers, and other grant recipients.

PRIMR25/SBER25 Call for Session Proposals Program

We recognize this is a challenging and confusing time for many. We want to ensure our community has space and time to compose and contribute to our annual meeting. Therefore, we are extending the Call for Session Proposals deadline until February 28. We want to hear from you, so please submit your ideas.

PRIM&R's Call for Session Proposal Program is an opportunity to contribute to the content for our annual meeting.

How to submit a proposal:

Review the guidelines before completing the submission form.
Please note: You cannot save a submission once you start the form.
Complete the submission form by February 28, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST.
Notification of your proposal status will be sent before registration opens in mid-June.

Find Out More

The call for PRIMR25 Poster Abstracts is now open!

Presenting posters at the PRIM&R Annual Conference not only promotes interdisciplinary sharing and collaboration but also offers a unique platform to exchange ideas, information, and practical strategies. It's an opportunity to showcase your work and contribute to overcoming the challenges research professionals face.

Click this link to review the poster abstract webpage before submitting an abstract. This page is designed to provide you with all the necessary information, including submission categories, abstract formats, and poster logistics, to ensure your submission is successful.

Complete the online submission form by

Friday, April 11, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET.

We will be sending out our decisions by email on June 9, 2025, giving you ample time to prepare for the conference.

Find Out More

PRIMR25 Call for Poster Review Committee Members

PRIM&R is seeking volunteers to serve on the 2025 PRIM&R Annual Conference (PRIMR25) Poster Abstract Committee.

The Poster Abstract Committee reviews submissions based upon innovative programs related to the successful work of research oversight and compliance programs, or empirical research on, or conceptual analyses of, topics or questions relevant to human subjects research protections, animal care and use/animal welfare, or “crossover” topics in research ethics (i.e., topics that span the research program as defined on this webpage).

Find Out More

Join the IACUC Channel

PRIM&R members can connect with fellow IACUC professionals in a secure online community forum designed for sharing expertise and navigating challenges. Exchange insights on protocol review, facility inspections, and program management with peers who understand the complexities of nonhuman animal research oversight. Post anonymously when needed to discuss sensitive situations or seek candid feedback.

Join Us

Virtual Roundtable:

Recruiting and Educating Nonscientific/-Affiliated IACUC Members

IACUC membership must consist of at least one member whose primary concerns are in a nonscientific area and at least one member who is not affiliated with the institution other than as a member of the IACUC.

This Virtual Roundtable discusses:

Strategies to recruit members from diverse populations within the community
Institutional policies or guidance that can be implemented regarding venues to recruit or additional requirements for membership that take cultural/community attributes into consideration
Training/education initiatives for nonscientific/non-affiliated members on the value of research with nonhuman animals and how to communicate “what they do.”

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

1:00–2:00 PM EST

February 2025 Monthly Recertification Info Session

If you're due for Certified IRB Professional (CIP®) or Certified Professional in IACUC Administration (CPIA®) recertification and have questions about the process, this session is perfect for you. The session will begin with a brief overview of the recertification process followed by Q&A. Ensure your continuing professional development is on track by joining us for this informative session.

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

1:00–2:00 PM EST

CIP® Exam Info Session

This free session is designed for those who are interested in becoming a Certified IRB Professional. If you currently hold a CIP® certification and need to recertify by exam, the informational session will be a great way to refresh your memory and update you on the exam process.

March 2025 CIP Exam Info Session

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

1:00–2:00 PM EST

CPIA® Exam Info Session

This free session is designed for those who are interested in becoming a Certified Professional in IACUC Administration. If you currently hold a CPIA® certification and want to recertify by exam, the informational session will be a great way to refresh your memory and update you on the exam process.

February 2025 CPIA® Exam Info Session

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

1:00–2:00 PM EST

Expand Your Expertise with 2024 Annual Conference Recorded Session Bundles!

Access curated conference session bundles featuring expert-led discussions—on demand and at your convenience.

PRIM&R’s conference education bundles offer a curated selection of recorded sessions, providing you with targeted learning opportunities. These on-demand bundles cover key topics such as HRPP/IRB/IACUC management; social, behavioral, and educational research; and institutional leadership and shared research oversight. Designed for flexibility, each bundle features expert-led sessions that deliver in-depth insights into critical issues in research oversight.

Find Out More

Agility and Safety Scenarios in Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Research and Social Behavioral and Educational Research (SBER)

The relationship between researchers and regulatory offices should feel like a partnership. Research compliance offices share goals of safety and ethics in research. Many times, this means being adaptable and agile to find the central core of best practices during very specific situations. This webinar will examine models that encourage dialogue and population-specific considerations in the early stages of research design; where we ask, “how can we create an environment where researchers and regulatory offices openly discuss challenges rather than just complying on paper?”

Using examples that include SBER, and the complexities found at the nexus of humananimal interaction research, the presenters will equip attendees with strategies to use with multiple research populations. Through real-world insights and conversation starters, we will explore strategies to build collaborative approaches that identify and uphold our shared values. Let’s rumble through the hard topics—together.

Thursday, February 27, 2025

1:00–2:00 PM EST

Find Out More

Annual Research Ethics Day Conference - The Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Research: Challenges & Emerging Guidance

Researchers across many disciplines are increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), including large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT to support empirical research and data analysis, academic writing, peer review, and development of new tools. The broad reach of AI in research raises pressing ethical questions about scientific integrity, authorship, data privacy, bias, and equity. Related issues include how trainees and students should be instructed to use and acknowledge the use of AI tools in their research. Ethical guidance from research institutions, professional organizations, journals, and governmental oversight authorities is only beginning to emerge, and ethical oversight of AI in research also remains in flux.

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

10:00 AM–4:00 PM EST

The following fiction and nonfiction books relate to the fields of research, healthcare, and ethics. These novels come recommended by PRIM&R staff, affiliates, and members.

View Full PRIM&R Book List