*Sent on behalf of Vice Chancellor for Research Collard*

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to update the provisional guidance on federally funded awards provided by Chancellor Sam Hawgood on January 28, 2025. Since that time, we have gained a better understanding of the federal government’s priorities and actions.

UCSF researchers should take the following actions:

1. As previously recommended, federally funded researchers should continue their funded research unless they receive a notice from their funding agency to do otherwise.
2. Researchers are encouraged to continue writing and submitting federal grants responsive to the current funding announcements (FOAs).
3. If you are awaiting a delayed continuation Notice of Award (NOA) or no cost extension (NCE) for an existing award, we are working with department leadership to help assess the risk for the award’s modification or termination.
4. If you receive an award modification or termination order from federal agencies, contact your departmental post-award manager and the Office of Research at cgawardteam@ucsf.edu and take these additional steps:

a. Modification orders: Work with your departmental post-award staff to address the modification. You should immediately stop any work that is requested by the agency unless other funding is available. We anticipate that awards receiving modification orders will continue to be funded for the modified scope once amended.

b. Termination orders: You should immediately stop all work unless other funding is available or there is a compelling safety or regulatory concern (in which case, continuation is likely allowable by the agency). Please work with your departmental post-award staff to address the termination. The Office of Research will assist your post-award manager as needed.

5. If you would like to submit an appeal for a modification, stop work, or termination order, please contact the Office of Research at cgawardteam@ucsf.edu for assistance.

As we work together to navigate this rapidly changing funding environment, UCSF is working to develop resources for faculty, staff, and trainees impacted by modifications and terminations. More information on this will be forthcoming from the campus and schools soon. Please check the UCSF Research landing webpage for updates. We recognize that these changes are highly impactful and may cause significant distress for researchers and their teams. There are many resources available to faculty, staff, and trainees including the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program and Student Mental Health and Wellbeing. We encourage you to take advantage of these services.

UCSF leadership continues to work closely with UC Office of the President (UCOP), UC Legal, and the UCOP Government Relations team to advocate for and support our researcher community. If you are interested in adding your voice to the advocacy efforts, please visit www.ucsf.edu/cgr/advocacy/become-a-ucsf-advocate.

Thank you all for your ongoing leadership and collaboration.

Yours,

Hal

Harold R. Collard, MD, MS

Vice Chancellor for Research

Professor of Medicine and Health Policy