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NSF SECURE Center
Research Security Briefing

Vol. 2, No. 3
January 22, 2026

Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation or other US Government Agencies.

The 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.

Briefing Contents

Professional Association Resources & Reports

COGR's Forum VI Slide presentation now available

Slides are now available from the Council on Government Relations (COGR) January 13, 2026, virtual event, COGR Forum VI: Adapting to Change, Policy Shifts & Research Impact. The program included updates from federal agency staff as well as briefings from COGR staff and committee leaders. Research security-related highlights from the forum can be found in SECURE Research Security Briefing, vol. 2, no. 2, issued January 16, 2026.

CITI Program Offers SECURE Center Training, Including RECR Supplement

The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (Section 10337) directed the National Science Foundation (NSF) to expand Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training requirements to include “training to raise awareness of potential research security threats; and Federal export control, disclosure, and reporting requirements.” NSF implemented these updates through Important Notice No. 149, with an effective date of December 2, 2025, and a grace period for certification through December 31, 2025. Under the notice, the Authorized Organizational Representative must certify that their institution has a plan to provide appropriate RCR training and oversight for NSF-supported personnel, including mentor training and mentorship, research security awareness, and federal export control requirements. To help institutions meet these new standards, the SECURE Center has released a new RCR Research Security Training Supplement.
 

In March 2026, CITI Program will offer this module as part of its Research Security offerings, which already include the SECURE Center’s Consolidated Training Module 1.2 (CTM 1.2). This will allow institutions that subscribe to the RCR series, as well as the Research Security and Export Compliance series, to incorporate the module into relevant RCR courses alongside CITI Program’s existing mentoring and export compliance modules.

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.

Science and geopolitics: The interesting case of Canada
(University World News, 1/21/2026)

A recent analysis explores how rising geopolitical tensions, particularly involving Canada, China, and the United States, are reshaping international research collaboration and research security policy. The authors argue that Chinese-origin scholars have played an outsized role in Canada’s research ecosystem and in Canada–China collaboration, especially in STEM fields, but that expanded national security guidelines and heightened scrutiny have led to a chilling effect on partnerships, premature termination of projects, and concerns about talent loss. Bibliometric and survey evidence suggests that disengagement from China disproportionately harms Canada’s research output, visibility, and innovation capacity, while having limited impact on China. The authors argue that while research security measures are necessary, overly restrictive approaches risk undermining competitiveness and talent attraction, highlighting the need for a more balanced strategy as Canada seeks to protect national interests while sustaining an open, globally connected research system. (more)

Official research security checks cause ‘thousands’ of delays
(Research Professional News, 1/13/2026)

The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office is facing criticism after its enhanced research security clearance process caused “thousands” of delays for incoming researchers and postgraduate students.  According to reporting in Research Professional News, Ministers of Parliament and others warn that slow approvals are holding up appointments, jeopardizing research projects, and deterring international talent from choosing the UK for academic careers.
 

Critics argue that extended wait times for security clearances are undermining the UK’s competitiveness in the global research landscape, disrupting university hiring and project timelines, and contributing to frustration among academics from overseas. While there is broad recognition of the importance of protecting sensitive technology and research, the current backlog highlights tensions between research security policies and the need to efficiently recruit international researchers. (more)

Are we reducing research security risk, or just shifting it around?
(Wonkhe, 1/13/2026)

In this opinion piece, the author argues that many current research security measures may be shifting risk rather than reducing it. As countries introduce tighter controls on sensitive research and international collaboration, inconsistent policies and uneven capacity across regions can push risk toward institutions or countries with fewer resources and weaker safeguards. The author warns this “waterbed effect” can fragment global research partnerships and create new vulnerabilities, particularly in lower-resource settings, and urges that sustainable risk reduction requires more coordinated, globally aligned approaches and investment in shared capacity, rather than isolated national frameworks that may inadvertently undermine collaboration and trust. (more)

The fight to keep science global
(American Physical Society, 1/13/2026)

In a recent commentary, the author cautions that rising geopolitical tensions and expanding research security policies risk eroding the global nature of science. While acknowledging the need to protect sensitive research, the article argues that overly restrictive or fragmented approaches can hinder international collaboration, talent mobility, and the open exchange of ideas that underpin scientific progress across disciplines. The author notes that maintaining research excellence will require policies and practices that strike a careful balance between security and openness, ensuring that efforts to manage risk do not unintentionally weaken collaboration, innovation, or the ability to address shared global challenges. (more)

FDP January 2026 Virtual Meeting Registration Now Open

Registration is now open for the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) virtual meeting, January 26-28, 2026.  The agenda includes a number of research security-related sessions.  Summaries from these sessions will be provided in a future issue of the SECURE Research Security Briefing:
 

Monday, 1/26/2026

  • 1:15 – 3:00 PM (ET):  Federal Agency Updates

    • Moderator/Host: Michelle Bulls, Director, Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration, NIH

    • Speakers:

      • Kimberly Whittet, NIFA

      • Chelsea Cole, USDA

      • Kasima Garst, NIH

      • Jason Bossie, NSF
         

  • 3:15 – 5:00 PM (ET):  Foreign Influence Federal Panel

    • Moderator/Hosts: Jim Luther, Yale University; Lisa Nichols, University of Notre Dame

    • Speakers:

  • Jason Day, DOD

  • Michelle Bulls, NIH

  • Julie Anderson, DOE

  • Sarah Stalker-Lehoux, NSF
     

Tuesday, 1/27/2026

  • 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (ET):  Research Security & Subawards Working Group

    • Speakers:

      • Taren Ellis Langford, Executive Director, Research Security& Responsible Outside Interests, The University of Arizona

      • Jennifer J. Ford, Research Compliance and Integrity (RCI) Operational Executive Director, University of California San Diego
         

  • 1:00 – 2:15 PM (ET):  Federal Research Security Program Requirements

    • Moderator/Host: Lisa Nichols, Executive Director, Research Security, University of Notre Dame, RSS Co-Chair, Deputy Director, NSF SECURE Center

    • Speakers:

      • Sarah Stalker-Lehoux, Acting Chief of Research Security, Strategy and Policy, National Science Foundation, and Co-Chair, FDP Research Security Subcommittee (Invited)

      • Julie Anderson, Director, Research Technology and Economic Security, Department of Energy (Invited)

      • Jason Day, Research Policy Director, Department of War (Invited)

      • Jarret Cummings, Senior Advisor for Policy and Government Relations, EDUCAUSE

      • Beth Kolko, Director, NSF SECURE Center, Professor, Human Centered Design and Engineering, University of Washington
         

  • 2:30 – 3:45 PM (ET):  DOJ Bulk Data Rule

    • Moderator/Host: Melissa Korf (Harvard Medical School)

 

Wednesday, 1/28/2026

  • 2:30 – 3:45 PM (ET):  SciENcv: Operational Updates & The Addition of new NIH Common Forms

Moderator/Hosts: Lori Schultz, Colorado State University; Bart Trawick, NIH

Registration is now open for COGR’s virtual membership meeting, taking place February 24-27, 2026.  Information regarding dates and times of research security-related sessions will be included in future SECURE Research Security Briefings as details become available.

COGR February 2026 Virtual Membership Meeting Registration Now Open

Registration is now open for the 2026 Academic Security and Counter Exploitation (ASCE) Program. This year is the 10th anniversary of the largest research security conference in the world: February 24 - 26, 2026. (more) 

RISC Bulletin

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.

ASCE 2026 Registration Now Open

NSF SECURE Opportunities, Updates & Resources

Researchers in Quantum and Computer Science Sought for Input on RS Resources (Rescheduled Dates)

Faculty Researchers at universities, non-profits or other research institutions, who have received federal funding and are working in quantum computing, computer science, and related fields are invited to volunteer for short virtual information-gathering sessions.  The sessions, organized by the NSF-funded SECURE Center, aim to gather researchers’ perspectives on challenges related to research security and international collaboration, with a focus on developing practical, low-burden resources to address these challenges. Participation will directly inform future guidance, training, and tools intended to reduce administrative workload and impediments to international collaborations while safeguarding research. Sessions are scheduled for:
 

  • Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 12-1:00 pm ET

  • Friday, February 6, 2026, 10-11:00 am ET

  • Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 1-2:00 pm ET

  • Friday, February 20, 2026, 11:00 am-12:00 pm ET

  • Friday, February 20, 2026, 2-3:00 pm ET
     

Faculty researchers are encouraged to share this opportunity with research colleagues who may be interested. Questions or interest to participate should be directed to SECURE Center staff at researchsecurity@nd.edu.

Previous SECURE Research Security Briefings

2026 issues of the Research Security Briefing are available on the SECURE Center website.

A combined, searchable version of all 2025 issues of the Briefing is also available.

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.

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