Do Export Control (EC) laws apply to you? They might if your research involves technology and you:

• allow foreign nationals to participate in your research;
• conduct research in cooperation with a foreign company or in a foreign country;
• send research equipment or software to a foreign country; or
• share research technology – verbally or in writing or visually – with persons who are not U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens.

What are the consequences of failing to follow EC laws – even unknowingly?

• up to $250,000 per violation and up to 10 years in prison for faculty

The Export Administration Regulations (EAR), enforced by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), enforced by the U.S. Department of State, prohibit the export of specific unlicensed technologies for reasons of national security or protection of trade.

If university research is controlled under the EAR or the ITAR, depending on the facts of a particular project, the EAR and/or ITAR may obligate the university to obtain a license from the State Department or the Commerce Department as a condition of allowing foreign nationals to participate in the research, conducting the research in cooperation with a foreign company or foreign colleagues, sending research equipment to foreign countries, or sharing research technology — verbally, in writing or visually — with persons who are not United States citizens or permanent resident aliens.

In addition to the EAR and the ITAR, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in the U.S. Treasury Department administers and enforces boycotts that have been imposed against specific countries based on reasons of foreign policy, national security, or international agreements. The scope of the boycott varies depending on the country, and may change from month to month. In some instances, the boycott program may prohibit conducting surveys of persons in the boycotted country. In other instances, the boycott may be limited to selling goods to persons within the boycotted country. Full descriptions of all countries currently subject to boycott programs are available at www.ustreas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sanctions/.

EC regulations and OFAC boycott programs may impact the quality of university research, undermine publication rights, and prohibit international collaboration if the dissemination of university research is not placed in the public domain and does not qualify for the fundamental research exclusion (see ORSP Export Control web page). The consequences of violating these regulations can be quite severe, ranging from loss of research contracts to monetary penalties to jail time for the individual violating these regulations.

Since the events of September 11, 2001 , the federal government’s focus on export control laws and regulations has both increased and expanded to include universities. As a result, now more than ever, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, the Facility Security Officer, the University Attorney’s Office, and Principal Investigators must to work together to review research projects, requests to ship equipment abroad, and research, nondisclosure and other agreements to determine whether and to what extent EC regulations may be involved. Although there are many facets in the application of EC regulations to the university, two situations are of great concern because they invoke export control regulations:

1. restrictive language in contracts and grants that destroys the fundamental research exclusion, and
2. access by foreign nationals (including faculty, visitors, and graduate and undergraduate students) to controlled technologies.

If you believe the technology that you use (and it can include fairly common items on university campuses, such as specialized GPS hardware and encryption software) may involve EC laws, please follow the guidelines and the detailed descriptions on the Export Control web page.  Direct questions to Tom Lombardo, Ph.D., Director of Research Integrity and Compliance (phone 662-915-3929 or email Tom), or Robin Buchannon, Ph.D., Associate Director of Centers and Institutes (phone 662-915-7482 or email Robin). For projects containing classified information, contact Ed Movitz, Facility Security Officer (phone 662-915-5433 or email Ed).

Search Wizard Helps Get New COS Funding Opportunities Users Up to Speed
The new Search Wizard interface in Community of Science (COS) Funding Opportunities is an ideal way for new users to become familiar with the many criteria on which they can base their searches. While the traditional Main Search interface can be challenging the first few times, the Search Wizard covers the same fields one by one. Search Wizard may seem slow for more experienced users, but it’s ideal to initiate new users to building targeted searches in COS Funding Opportunities. To try the Search Wizard, go to http://fundingopps.cos.com/ (using any UM campus computer).

Don't know about Community of Science?
Check out our COS page, the newsletter article published last January, or the COS home page at www.cos.com.

To date, 98 UM faculty members have published Full Profiles on the COS Expertise system ~ have YOU done yours yet?

Bio-Chem Defense Vaccines and Therapeutics Conference and Symposium in Arlington ~ April 18-20
This conference and symposium will present the nation's bio-chem defense vaccines and therapeutics leaders as they discuss Project Bioshield, R&D program funding, and other crucial information about working with the government in its effort to develop, purchase and stockpile bio-chem defense vaccines and therapeutics. For more information: www.infocastinc.com/biovac.html.

AAAS Forum on Science and Technology Policy in Washington ~ April 21-22
The 30th Annual AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Forum on Science and Technology Policy provides a setting in which federal and industrial policy-makers and members of the scientific, engineering, and academic communities can participate in an open discussion of issues relating to science and technology policy. Attending are scientists and engineers, administrators, industrial R&D managers, policy-makers, academicians, association officials, federal grant recipients, students, science attachés, government affairs specialists, public affairs officers, and others with an interest in the intersection of policy with science and technology. Deadline for advance registration is April 6, 2005. For full details and registration: www.aaas.org/forum.

R&D Conference in Boston ~ April 27-28
DHS Science and Technology is sponsoring Working Together: R&D Partnerships in Homeland Security, to be held April 27-28, 2005 in Boston. This conference encourages R&D partnering among scientists and engineers from government, national laboratories, universities and research institutes, and private sector firms investing in R&D, to address the collective science and technology research goals of the U.S. homeland security community. The conference will bring together more than 600 attendees supporting homeland security research and development, for information exchange and subsequent collaboration. For more information, visit the conference web site, www.homelandsecurityresearchconference.org.

SBIR/STTR and Other Opportunities Workshop ~ April 28-29
MS-FAST, in partnership with the Louisiana FAST program and the Southeast RTTC, will be holding its annual NASA focused workshop this year on April 28th and 29th in the Advance Education Center building on the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach, MS (www.usm.edu/gulfcoast/gulfpark.html). Day 1 includes a Proposal Development Workshop that is not NASA-focused and will benefit companies considering submission of a Phase I proposal to any agency. Day 2 focuses on and includes presentations from NASA program and technical representatives concerning SBIR, dual-use and other technology development opportunities within the agency.

NIH Regional Seminar at Purdue ~ June 22-24
This National Institutes of Health Regional Seminar on Program Funding and Grants Administration is intended to help demystify the grant application and review process, clarify federal regulations and policies, and highlight current areas of special interest or concern. It serves the NIH missions of providing education and training for the next generations of biomedical and behavioral scientists. NIH policy, grants management, review, and program staff will provide a broad array of expertise and encourage personal interaction between themselves and participants. Conference web site: www.purdue.edu/research/NIHSeminar/index.html. Email: NIHSeminar@purdue.edu.

14th International Scientific Congress in Havana ~ June 27-30
Every five years, the National Center for Scientific Research holds its International Scientific Congress, which will take place this year on June 27-30, 2005. The meeting aims to: (1) allow a gathering as well as a fruitful scientific-technical exchange among an important number of national and international specialists in their research fields; and (2) offer an opportunity for showing new products and technologies from the medical, pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries. For more information, visit www.cnic.edu.cu/14Congreso/Bienvenida.htm.

7th Annual NIH SBIR/STTR Conference ~ July 28 -29
The 7th Annual NIH SBIR/STTR conference will be held on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus in Bethesda , MD. This free two-day conference organized by the NIH will focus on SBIR and STTR funding opportunities available explicitly to small businesses that have innovative biomedical or behavioral research ideas with commercial potential. Companies considering submission of SBIR/STTR proposals to NIH are encouraged to attend this event. To view the NIH website for the 7th Annual conference and register, go to: grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/SBIRConf2005/index.htm.

NASA’s 17th Annual Planetary Science Summer School ~ July 25-29 and August 1-5
Applications are due June 3, 2005 for this summer’s two sessions of the Planetary Science Summer School, to be held at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Science and engineering post-doctoral and graduate students with a strong interest in careers in planetary exploration are encouraged to apply. Preference is given to U.S. citizens. The student teams will carry out the equivalent of an early concept study responsive to a selected NASA Announcement of Opportunity, prepare a proposal authorization review presentation, present it to a review board, and receive feedback. Partial financial support is available to a limited number of individuals (travel and lodging only). For more information, visit http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/pscischool/.

Conferences on Economy and Community ~ September 21-22 and 23-24
The Social Capital Foundation invites all interested persons or organizations to present a paper to one or both of its upcoming international, interdisciplinary conferences that will be held next September in the beautiful island of Malta.
Conference on Social Capital ~ 21-22 September, 2005
Conference on Economy and Community ~ 23-24 September, 2005
Paper proposals may take the form of a one-page detailed abstract. For more information on either conference, visit www.socialcapital-foundation.org/TSCF/TSCF%20conferences.htm.

US Department of Education Teacher Quality Enhancement Recruitment Grants ~ Deadline May 2
The purpose of this U.S. Department of Education program is to afford an opportunity to address the challenge of America’s teacher shortage by making significant and lasting systemic changes in the way that teachers are recruited, prepared and supported to teach in high-need schools. The Department of Education’s goal is that these systemic changes lead to important improvements to the supply of well-trained and highly-qualified teachers. Institutions of higher education are eligible to apply in partnership with a high-need LEA. For complete information, go to www.ed.gov/programs/heatqp/index.html.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Environmental Literacy Projects ~ Deadline May 12
NOAA’s Office of Education and Sustainable Development (OESD) is soliciting one- to three-year proposals for environmental literacy projects (Federal Funding Opportunity No. USEC-OESD-2005-2000118). Funded projects will further NOAA’s education goals articulated in the NOAA Education Plan. Funding is available to encourage the development of partnerships and to support existing, or foster growth of new, environmental literacy projects. This program has two funding priorities for FY05: (1) partnerships that promote systemic change in NOAA-related science education, and (2) innovative presentation of NOAA science and earth observing data through educational data visualizations and other educational tools. Information about this program is available on the OESD website at www.oesd.noaa.gov; applications are available at www.grants.gov/Apply (use Federal Funding Opportunity No. above).

Ford Foundation Difficult Dialogues Initiative ~ Pre-Proposal Deadline May 16
The Ford Foundation, through its Difficult Dialogues Initiative, is seeking to promote religious, cultural, and political pluralism, as well as academic freedom, on college campuses. The objective of this new effort is to support programs and projects that promote greater dialogue around the sensitive and sometimes controversial questions that arise due to increasing religious and cultural diversity on campus. The foundation expects that all funded projects will have a substantial impact on the institution by improving the campus climate for a broad spectrum of faculty, students, and staff by promoting an environment in which difficult topics can be discussed in a spirit of scholarly inquiry and with a respect for different viewpoints. Preliminary proposals, including presidential endorsement, must be submitted by e-mail no later than midnight on May 16, 2005. Invited full proposals will be due by October 1, 2005. For more information, visit www.fordfound.org/news/more/dialogues/index.cfm.

National Science Foundation Biological Databases and Informatics ~ Deadline July 11
The National Science Foundation’s Biological Databases and Informatics program seeks to encourage new approaches to the management, analysis, and dissemination of biological knowledge for the benefit of both the scientific community and the broader public. For the full program announcement, see www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf05577.

National Science Foundation Biological Research Collections ~ Deadline July 15
The National Science Foundation’s Biological Research Collections Program provides support for biological collection enhancement, computerization of specimen-related data, research to develop better methods for specimen curation and collection management, and activities such as symposia and workshops to investigate support and management of biological collections. Biological collections supported include those housing natural history specimens and jointly curated collections such as frozen tissues and other physical samples, e.g. DNA libraries and digital images. Such collections provide the materials necessary for research in a broad area of biological sciences. For the full program announcement, see www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf05575

Guggenheim Foundation Control of Violence, Aggression and Dominance ~ Deadline August 1
The Guggenheim Foundation welcomes proposals from any of the natural and social sciences and the humanities that promise to increase understanding of the causes, manifestations, and control of violence, aggression, and dominance. Highest priority is given to research that can increase understanding and amelioration of urgent problems of violence, aggression, and dominance in the modern world. Particular questions that interest the foundation concern violence, aggression, and dominance in relation to social change; the socialization of children, intergroup conflict, drug trafficking and use, and family relationships; as well as the control of aggression and violence. For more information, go to www.hfg.org/rg/guidelines.htm.

Find MORE on the ORSP Funding Opportunities Recent Announcements page

SEARCH for Funding Opportunities using Community of Science

DARPA Funds Diverted from Universities
Confirming rumors among academics at a number of colleges and universities, the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has acknowledged a shift away from university projects. DARPA has long been a supporter of broad-ranging, long-term research initiatives at institutions of higher education, and many credit such programs with many of the innovations that underpin today’s household technologies. In seeking shorter-term projects with more concrete deliverables, however, DARPA has significantly cut back funds for university projects. Many in the research community fear that the shift away from basic, open-ended research will result in slower technological progress.

Mega Doses of Green Tea Extract May Increase Health Risks
According to a story released by the UM Newsdesk, a study completed by University of Mississippi researchers indicates that extremely high doses of green tea extract actually may activate – rather than shut down – genetic mechanisms that help certain tumors survive and grow. The study, led by Principal Investigator Yu-Dong Zhou, a molecular biologist at the UM National Center for Natural Products Research and assistant professor of pharmacognosy, was supported initially by the ORSP’s Faculty Research Program; additional support for the research has come from the Department of Defense’s Breast Cancer Research Program and the National Cancer Institute. Dale Nagle, associate professor of pharmacognosy, worked with Zhou on the project. Zhou and Nagle began studying green tea compounds because they are promoted as having antioxidant properties. In areas where people drink a lot of green tea, there is a lower incidence of heart disease and some cancers. Recently several manufacturers have produced dietary supplements containing concentrated extracts of green tea’s active ingredients.

Office of Justice Programs Financial Guide Revised
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Financial Guide for recipients of Department of Justice (DOJ) Grants and Cooperative Agreements has been revised in a new edition, dated March 2005, which incorporates changes going back to November 2003. The full content of the OJP Financial Guide can be accessed at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/oc.

Vice Chancellor's Office
§ In the month of March, Vice-Chancellor Alice Clark made a number of trips, including several to Washington, D.C. in order to support the University’s researchers, research efforts, and research capacity. During March, Dr. Clark met with Dr. Joel Schwartz of the National Endowment for the Humanities and Dr. Arden Bement, Director of the National Science Foundation.
§ In addition, Vice-Chancellor Clark attended the meeting of the Southeastern University Research Association (SURA) board of trustees.  As a trustee, Dr. Clark works with other administrators to identify the next critical area of scientific interest. SURA is planning a conference for this summer on terahertz applications, a kind of wave appearing on the spectrum between infrared and microwaves with enormous scientific and commercial potential.

Division of Research
§ On April 25, an invitation-only luncheon will be held in the Johnson Commons Ballroom to honor the 37 Faculty Research Fellows of 2005. Fellows will be acknowledged individually and receive a certificate of recognition. Provost Carolyn Staton and the Fellows’ deans and chairs will also be in attendance to recognize this year’s grant recipients. For more information about UM's Faculty Research Program, a list of this year’s recipients, and the titles of their funded projects, see the article published in the December Research Highlights.
§ ORSP’s two Program Development Specialists are always busy helping UM researchers prepare and submit proposals for external funding support. Be sure to read the ORSP Monthly Report page for a full accounting of this activity last month.

Division of Research Integrity and Compliance
§ A new Export Control web page has been added to the Research Integrity and Compliance section of the ORSP website, with definitions, guidelines, and resources for this important area of federal regulations impacting university research (see feature article above).
§ The complete schedule of IRB Full Board Meetings and Protocol Due Dates through Fall 2005 has been posted on the IRB Meetings Schedule page.
§ The full IACUC will hold its next meeting April 22, 2005. For more information and/or assistance, contact the Division of Research Integrity and Compliance at 915-3929 or irb@research.olemiss.edu.
§ A couple of changes have been made to the animal research web pages, as follows:
1-The DOs and DON’Ts page has been revised; those who attended the April 8 IACUC Orientation received the revised version.
2-A new web page, Tips for Principal Investigators, has been added. Suggestions to improve the Tips page are welcome, and all suggestions will be considered — send them to irb@research.olemiss.edu.

Division of Sponsored Programs Administration
§ Recently, two more ORSP staff members sat for and passed the stringent examination to become Certified Research Administrators (CRAs). Robin Buchannon
Anita Randle have joined Patrick Brown in the CRA ranks and are now recognized by the national research administrators community as specialized in most areas necessary to function at the top level of efficiency and knowledge in the complex world of research operations. Please join us in recognizing these outstanding employees of The University of Mississippi in our efforts to make our university’s operations the best possible in the support of faculty and staff conducting research. CRAs are asked to encourage other persons involved in research administration to study for and take the CRA exam. If you are involved in the administration of research and sponsored programs at your center or school and are interested in this certification track, please see the CRA website. You may also contact the ORSP for more information (phone 915-7482 or email research@olemiss.edu).
§ The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs is now submitting all first-time NIH no-cost extensions via NIH’s grants management website, the eRA Commons. The process is considerably easier and more efficient than before and requires minimum involvement from busy PIs. Faculty with NIH grants wishing to request no-cost extensions should contact the ORSP within 90 days of the scheduled budget period end date and indicate if they would like to request a 12-, nine- or six-month extension; ORSP staff will take care of the rest. We also plan to utilize more eRA Commons functions in the near future, so look out for further details. For questions or more information, contact Anita Randle, ORSP Contracts and Grants Specialist (email Anita or phone 7482).

Division of Technology Management
The Division of Technology Management would like to congratulate the following UM faculty members on patent related activity for the first quarter of 2005.

Patent Applications Filed:

1. Mark Hamann
2. Jiasi Wang
3. Mitchell Avery, Nakul Peleng and Larry Walker
4. Jeffrey Roux, Ellen Lackey and James Vaughan
5. Yu-Dong Zhou, Dale Nagle, Kaleem Mohammed and Chowdhury Faiz Hossain
6. Xing-Cong Li and Melissa Jacob
7. Mitchell Avery, Rahi Reddy Chada, Amar Gopal Chittiboyina and Jae-Chul Jung

Notices of Allowance Received:

1. Mitchell Avery: Synthesis of the C1-C6 Keto Acid Synthon of the Epothilones
2. Dhammika Nanayakkara: Novel Selective Algaecides for Control of Cyanochloronta

Issued Patents:

1. Dale Nagle: Fungicidal Properties of Samgangine and its Analogs to Agriculturally Important Fungal Plant Pathogens

For a complete list of current Technologies Available for Licensing (inventions by UM faculty, staff, and students), relevant policies and procedures, or information on how you can submit your own invention for review, please visit the ORSP Division of Technology Management web pages.

For complete information about the ORSP — mission, structure, services, responsibilities, and more — visit the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs page

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs oversees funding for research, service,
education projects. These activities complement the fundamental aspects of The University of Mississippi’s mission and are among its most tangible contributions to the future. Funding for these activities is one of the best measures of a university’s success in engaging with national and international communities.

All of us who have sought funding to test our ideas know that it is difficult and that the communities to which we belong are highly competitive. That spirit of competition is critical and it contributes more than a little to the relief and excitement a researcher feels on receiving a funding award.

Listed below are our colleagues who have been notified of external funding awards in the last calendar month. Please join me in congratulating them. The news of their discoveries and the importance of their contributions are part of all of our futures and the future of Ole Miss.

Alice M. Clark, Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor for Research and Sponsored Programs

PI Name	PI Department/Unit	Co-PI Name/s
Boyd, C.	Social Work
Fox, G.	Civil Engineering
Gilbert, K.	National Center for Physical Acoustics	Bass, H.
Matsumoto, R.	Pharmacology
McGraw, K.	Psychology
Palmer, H.	Political Science
Repka, M.	Pharmaceutics	Stodghill, S.
Sukanek, P.	Chemical Engineering
Sukanek, P.	Chemical Engineering	O’Haver, J.; Fox, R.
Ukeiley, L.	National Center for Physical Acoustics
Ward, J.	History
Wilson, C.	Center for the Study of Southern Culture