The U.S. government has placed research security at the center of higher education policy. With the release of new guidance from the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), universities are being asked to take a more proactive role in protecting federally funded research, sensitive technologies, and their institutional reputations.&nbsp;

This heightened focus brings new responsibilities for research universities, particularly for Offices of Sponsored Programs (OSP) and Research Integrity &amp; Compliance teams, who are now under increased scrutiny from federal and state regulators.&nbsp;

Why Research Security Matters More Than Ever&nbsp;

Foreign adversaries have been found targeting U.S. universities through:&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; - Undisclosed foreign funding and affiliations by faculty and researchers.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; - Recruitment programs designed to acquire U.S. talent and intellectual property.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; - Cyber intrusions and insider threats that compromise sensitive data.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; - Manipulation of global research collaborations to extract technical knowledge.&nbsp;

The consequences for institutions are serious. Universities have already paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines for failing to disclose foreign funding sources. Beyond financial penalties, lapses in compliance risk the loss of federal research funding, damage to institutional reputation, and the potential to undermine the integrity of the U.S. research ecosystem.&nbsp;

The Emerging Compliance Challenge for OSP Teams&nbsp;

OSP leaders and compliance officers face mounting pressure to:&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; - Verify the accuracy of researcher credentials, employment history, and professional affiliations.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; - Ensure full disclosure of funding sources, both domestic and international.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; - Provide audit-ready reports to federal agencies, demonstrating due diligence.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; - Navigate a patchwork of state-level laws, which are adding complexity to reporting requirements.&nbsp;

For example, in Georgia, new laws have reduced the threshold for reporting foreign funding to $1,000, meaning that smaller amounts, including funds from international student sponsors (not including family or friends) who often contribute $30,000 or more, may now fall under review. This underscores the importance of thoroughly checking financial flows connected to research and academic activity.&nbsp;

How Veri Once Supports Research Integrity&nbsp;

Veri Once already partners with universities to verify sensitive documents directly from the source. Our secure platform can support OSP teams by:&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; - Researcher Background Screening&nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Confirm academic transcripts, professional licenses, work experience, and employment history.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; -&nbsp;Funding Source Verification&nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Verify financial documents and sponsorships to ensure compliance with both federal and state-level reporting requirements.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; - Disclosure &amp; Compliance Support&nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Provide tamperproof, blockchain-secured, audit-ready reports that demonstrate due diligence to regulators and funding agencies.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; -&nbsp;Institutional Risk Reduction&nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Protect universities against financial penalties, reputational damage, and loss of federal research funding.&nbsp;

Building a Culture of Integrity and Compliance&nbsp;

Universities are rightly proud of their global collaborations and groundbreaking research. But as the government sharpens its focus on research security, institutions must be equally committed to compliance, transparency, and verification.&nbsp;

By working with Veri Once, research leaders and OSP teams can ensure their researchers, funding, and collaborations are thoroughly vetted, fully compliant, and audit-ready, allowing them to focus on what matters most: advancing knowledge and innovation.&nbsp;

Next Step: To learn how Veri Once can help your university strengthen research compliance and verification practices, <a href="https://calendly.com/verionce/30min" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">contact us</a> for a quick demonstration.&nbsp;