Universities Are Hopeful as U.S. Considers New Rules for Grant Reimbursement

By Paul Basken

Revisions in federal rules defining how universities get reimbursed for scientific-grant expenses could soon bring relief to thousands of researchers involved in billions of dollars in government-sponsored research.

Universities have a lot not to like about the rules, published in a document known as Circular A-21, or at least about the way they're being interpreted now. Much of the trouble stems from the simple fact that the federal budget is being cut. Because of that, many of the