VCU news

On Wednesday, Feb. 12, university leaders hosted a virtual meeting regarding federal research. This update session included remarks from: 

• Michael Rao, Ph.D., VCU president
• Fotis Sotiropoulos, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs
• Matthew Conrad, J.D., vice president for government and external relations
• P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D., vice president for research and innovation
• Arturo P. Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the VCU School of Medicine
• Marlon F. Levy, M.D., senior vice president for VCU Health Sciences and CEO of VCU Health System
• Meredith Weiss, Ph.D., senior vice president for finance and administration and CFO

During the session, university leaders reemphasized their commitment to the VCU research enterprise. This included the following updates: 

• VCU is involved in bipartisan conversations at the state and federal level about how White House executive orders, federal agency directives and court decisions may impact VCU.
• VCU has more than 850 active federal grants for this fiscal year. As of Feb. 14, the university has received stop-work or termination guidance for very few of them.
• If a proposed 15-percent cap on indirect costs were to go into effect for current and future NIH grants, the financial impact to VCU would be approximately $26 million.
• Researchers should continue to work on existing grants and submit proposals for new ones. 

Participants were able to submit questions during the session. Below are answers to questions that can be answered at this time:

How is VCU working with legislators, government officials and other stakeholders on these matters?

VCU is working closely with our partner institutions both in Virginia and across the country. We are also engaging with our national associations to share the impacts of these proposed directives. Additionally, our government relations team is engaging in bipartisan conversations at all levels of government. 

What would be the impact of the proposed federal cap on indirect costs?

Indirect (F&A) costs are expenses incurred by the institution in support of sponsored projects. Currently, VCU’s indirect cost rate is 55.25 percent. If a proposed 15-percent cap on indirect costs were to go into effect for current and future NIH grants, the financial impact to VCU would be approximately $26 million. While VCU is committed to monitoring potential changes, speculation and chasing down hypothetical outcomes will not help us serve our students or communities.

If we are aware of any impacts to research operations or patient care directly in relation to any White House executive orders, federal agency directives and court decisions, what should we do?

Please share any impacts with your research representatives.

How can we stay up-to-date with what is happening at the federal level?

The OVPRI will continue to update its federal updates webpage with material impacts to the VCU research enterprise. For a full listing of executive orders, agency directives and court decisions, the Council on Government Relations is maintaining a 2025 Administration Transition Information & Resources webpage. 

What is the current status of VCU’s grants and what should researchers do with their planned proposal submissions?

As of Feb. 14, 2025, very few of VCU’s 850+ federal grants have been impacted by the executive orders and agency directives. We have also been able to process “drawdowns” from all federal agencies as scheduled. 

Unless explicitly directed otherwise by a funding agency, researchers should continue to conduct their research as planned, including submitting proposals by their posted deadlines and charging their accounts in a prudent manner. 

What can I do to help?

VCU’s researchers conduct important, life-saving research every day. The most important thing is that we continue to conduct research and inform university administrators of any stop-work orders or other communications from federal agencies requesting that they stop their research.