Application authorization

When OSP signs an application, at a minimum, we are certifying that:

  • the statements contained in the application are true, accurate and complete,
  • the University will comply with the assurances and certifications referenced in the application, and
  • the University agrees to accept the obligation to comply with award terms and conditions and be accountable both for the appropriate use of funds awarded and for the performance of the grant-supported project or activities resulting from the application.

Typical certifications and assurances include (but are not limited to):

  • Debarment and Suspension
  • Drug-Free Workplace
  • Lobbying
  • Financial Conflict of Interest
  • Research Misconduct
  • Delinquent Federal Debt
  • Protection for Human Subjects
  • Animal Care and Use
  • Age Discrimination
  • Civil Rights
  • Handicapped Individuals

Syracuse University is responsible for establishing and maintaining the necessary processes required to monitor its compliance and that of our employees, consortium participants or subawardees, and contractors, taking appropriate action to meet the stated objectives, and informing the sponsor of any problems or concerns.

OSP authorization of an application is based on our consideration and review of the following compliance requirements:

The Internal Routing and Review (IRR) of Sponsored Programs form, which documents the PI/PD’s and any other key personnels’ attestation that

  • the statements in the application are true, accurate and complete (excluding hypotheses and scientific opinion);
  • the application does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others; and
  • the PI and the project team members (Co-PIs, Co-Investigators and other named Senior or Key Personnel) have certified their compliance with all applicable federal, university and sponsor policies.

The IRR form also documents the department(s) and school/college(s) support the activity and that all individuals committing resources in support of the project have authorized those commitments.  This form also documents certifications required by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation prior to application submission. Brief and detailed instructions for completing the Routing and Review of Sponsored Programs form, as well as guidance to chairs and deans, are available elsewhere on the OSP website.

Financial Conflict of Interests/Disclosure of Significant Financial Interests. All investigators, meaning “the project director or principal Investigator and any other person, regardless of title or position, who is responsible for the design, conduct, or reporting of externally funded projects, or proposed such funding”, should have a current Disclosure of Significant Financial Interests (SFI) form on file by the application deadline. The annual disclosure of significant financial interests is a strategy to maximize the objectivity of externally supported activities pursued by investigators who may have financial relationships with entities outside the University. Disclosure to the University must be made annually or more frequently when circumstances change.  The University requests disclosures in the spring from faculty and staff that applied for or were awarded funds during the past three years.  See Syracuse University’s updated Policy on Financial Conflict of Interest for more information.

Intellectual Property Agreement.  As required by federal regulation, all individuals supported on sponsored projects, including graduate students, must acknowledge the University’s intellectual property policy, which states that title to technology  resulting from research, work, or study supported by externally sponsored or University allocated resources belongs to Syracuse University. See the Faculty Manual, Section 3.07 for more information on the Ownership and Management of Intellectual Property.

Human or Animal Research Subject Approvals: Most sponsors no longer require Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval at the time of application submission; however many sponsors require the same information contained in the Syracuse University IRB/IACUC protocol applications to be included in the grant application, including in some cases informed consent documents.  The Office of Research Integrity and Protections oversees the human and animal protections programs. For more information see orip.syr.edu.

Whether supported by an external sponsor or the University, in no case can human or animal subjects’ research begin without written approval by the appropriate oversight board.

Environmental Health and Personnel Safety:
Research that may affect either personnel safety or environmental well being is subject to local, state or federal statutes or regulations. Syracuse University requires personnel engaged in such research to obtain training relevant to the potential hazard, or secure University approvals or licenses, as appropriate to the activity.  The need for such oversight is indicated on the Internal Routing and Review form.  The Environmental Health Office oversees these programs (e.g. chemical hygiene, radiation safety, recombinant DNA).  At this time, Syracuse University does not support research using select agents.  Faculty members interested in using these materials in their research should contact the Director of Environmental Health Office or the Director of the Research Integrity and Protections.