NSF SECURE Center
Research Security Briefing
Vol. 2, No. 15
May 1, 2026
The NSF SECURE Center distributes research security briefings and timely alerts via its listserv. The Briefing provides a centralized resource for research security-related information, including new statutory and research funding agency requirements, new or updated federal and community resources, and significant news items and scholarly works. The Center will also assess and provide commentary, interpretation, or implementation considerations on new requirements, notices and resources, working with higher education associations, legal partners, or agencies as needed.
Federal News & Updates
New Video Overview for NIH’s Collaborative International Research Projects (PF5)
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced the release of a new six-minute video overview of the agency’s new Collaborative International Research Project (PF5) award structure. The overview “explains key features, application format, and how applications may be disaggregated into linked awards after review and prior to just-in-time requests.” In addition, the overview video complements NIH’s other web resource, describing “what belongs in each required and optional component of the parent PF5 application, to ensure your submission is complete, responsive, and clearly structured.”
Research Security News, Reports & Events
Please note, articles linked below may require a subscription to view.
NSF SECURE Center cannot distribute copies of subscription-based articles.
South Korea Launches Research Security Hubs
(Asia Business Daily, 4/29/2026)
South Korea is moving to institutionalize research security through the launch of new research security hubs, led by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Chung-Ang University and supported by the Ministry of Science and Information Communication Technology. The hubs are designed to help universities and research organizations better manage risks associated with international collaboration, particularly around technology leakage, by embedding practical support directly within the research enterprise. Planned services include partner vetting, risk assessment, training, and information sharing, along with the development of AI-enabled tools and collaborative platforms to strengthen decision-making. (more)
Officer improperly canceled visa of Harvard scholar charged with frog embryo smuggling
(Associated Press, 4/8/2026)
A federal judge has ruled that U.S. Customs and Border Protection improperly canceled the visa of a Russian-born Harvard researcher who had been accused of smuggling frog embryo samples into the United States. The scientist, detained after arriving at Boston Logan International Airport with undeclared biological samples, had her visa revoked solely because of the materials. The judge found this action to be “arbitrary and capricious” and beyond the agency’s authority. (more)
Registration Open for FDP May Membership Meeting in Washington D.C.
Registration is open for the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) May 27-29 in-person membership meeting in Washington D.C. Research security-related sessions currently listed on the preliminary (draft) agenda include:
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Federal Agency Updates
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Federal Agency Research Security Risk Assessments and International Co-authorship
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Description: Federal agencies with published research security risk processes or matrices for fundamental research, including NIH, NSF, DOE and DoW, will discuss the latest updates to their evolving processes and resources and address audience questions regarding recent changes and experiences. The discussion will address the issue of co-authorship as a proxy for collaboration.
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Speakers:
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Michelle Bulls, Director, Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration, National Institutes of Health
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Sarah Stalker-Lehoux, Acting Chief of Research Security, Strategy and Policy, National Science Foundation
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Julie Anderson, Director, Research Technology and Economic Security, Department of Energy
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Jason Day, Research Policy Director, Department of War (Invited)
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Ann Gabriel, Senior Vice President for Global Strategic Networks, Elsevier
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Federal Research Security Update
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Description: A panel of federal speakers from NIH, NSF, DOE and DoW will provide an update on the latest federal and agency research security requirements and resources. The session will provide time for audience questions.
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Speakers:
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Michelle Bulls, Director, Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration, National Institutes of Health
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Sarah Stalker-Lehoux, Acting Chief of Research Security, Strategy and Policy, National Science Foundation
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Julie Anderson, Director, Research Technology and Economic Security, Department of Energy
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Jason Day, Research Policy Director, Department of War (Invited)
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Registration is open for COGR’s June 11-12 membership meeting in Washington DC. Research security-related sessions currently listed on the preliminary agenda include:
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Across the Agencies: Key Updates and Priorities (NIH, NSF, and DOE invited)
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Research Security & Biosafety: What’s New and What’s Next
RISC Bulletin
Registration Open for COGR June Membership Meeting in Washington D.C.
Texas A&M University’s Research and Innovation Security and Competitiveness (RISC) Institute disseminates weekly RISC Media Bulletins, covering topics related to research security, foreign influence, and the intersection of science, technology, and national security. To join the distribution list for the RISC Bulletin or view previous editions, click here.
NSF SECURE Opportunities, Updates & Resources
Upcoming NSF SECURE Center SPARK Webinars
SECURE Programming: Advancing Research Knowledge (SPARK) webinars are free, interactive, virtual webinars designed to help the research security community better understand and implement requirements, resources, and best practices.
AI, Analytics, and Data-Driven Decision Making in Research Security
The NSF SECURE Center will host a webinar on May 12, 2026, at 1:00pm PT (2:00pm MT, 3:00pm CT, 4:00pm ET). This panel will explore how AI, analytics, and big data are reshaping research security and what it takes to translate complex data into meaningful, defensible decisions. Drawing on real-world examples, speakers will examine how institutions can identify true risk signals, avoid overgeneralization, and responsibly integrate data-driven tools with expert judgment.
The panel will feature Allen DiPalma, Deputy Director, NSF SECURE Analytics and Executive Director, Research Security & Trade Compliance at the University of Pittsburgh; Baron Wolf, Research Analytics at the University of Kentucky; and Deepika Bhatia, Director of the NSF SECURE Southeast Regional Center and AVP and Chief Research Security Officer at Emory University. The session will be moderated by Jeff Seo, Chief Research Compliance Officer at Northeastern University. Registration is open via this link
Shared Virtual Environment (SVE) Website Access
Are you a member of the NSF SECURE Center’s Shared Virtual Environment (SVE)? The NSF SECURE Center’s website includes a direct login for the SVE. Not a member yet? Request access from the same site. Within the SVE, members can engage in the Community Forum to connect, ask questions, and work through challenges together, access NSF SECURE Center resources, and more. Recent topics in the Community Forum include research security training, implementing “clean” laptop programs, due diligence tools, and links to timely articles.
NSF SECURE Center Calendar of Events
Each week the NSF SECURE Center hosts events through the National and Regional Centers, including co-creation workshops, educational, and engagement sessions with the research community. The events calendar provides more information about these opportunities and more.
Previous NSF SECURE Center Research Security Briefings
2026 issues of the Research Security Briefing are available on the NSF SECURE Center website.
A combined, searchable version of all 2025 issues of the Briefing is also available.
Other News & Resources
Opportunity to Participate in an NSF-funded Study on AI Research Security
Recruitment is underway for participants to share their experiences on research security as part of TRAILS (Typology of Research on Artificial Intelligence Lifecycle Security), a two-year NSF-funded study on AI research security.
If you are (1) an AI researcher or researcher who uses AI, (2) an IT, SOC, or cybersecurity professional, or (3) a compliance or export control professional, then you could receive a $100 Amazon gift card by completing a 60–90-minute audio-recorded interview via Zoom.
If you are interested in sharing your experience, please complete this short, four-questions survey to check your eligibility for participation.
If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to Rockwell (“Rocky”) Clancy (rfclancy@vt.edu) on behalf of the TRAILS teams (Qin Zhu, John Talerico, and Lisa Lee).
Community Job Postings
Please note, postings linked below are time-limited in nature.
Looking to participate in NSF SECURE Center co-creation activities or contribute to weekly briefings?
Contact info@secure-center.org or sign up here.
The information provided by the NSF SECURE Center is intended for general research and educational purposes only. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and reliability of our content, we do not guarantee its completeness, timeliness, or applicability to specific circumstances. Each user is responsible for conducting their own risk assessments and making decisions based on independent judgment.
Further, the NSF SECURE Center does not provide professional or legal advice, and users are encouraged to consult qualified professionals before making decisions based on the information found here. The NSF SECURE Center shall not be liable for any damages or costs of any type arising out of or in any way connected with your use of this information. External links are provided for convenience and do not constitute an endorsement of the content or services offered by any third-party resources.
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement No. 2403771. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation or other U.S. Government Agencies.