NCURA 68th Annual Meeting

Hear from Attain Partners at the 2026 NCURA Annual Meeting

Attain Partners is a proud sponsor of the NCURA’s 68th Annual Meeting, taking place August 1 – 4, 2026, in New York, NY.

Are you attending? Add these informative sessions to your conference agenda or meet one-on-one with our experts at Booths #11 and #12.

Sunday, August 2, 2026

Practical AI for Research Administration: Doing More with Less
Sunday, August 2 | 10:30a – 11:30a ET | Concourse A, Concourse

AI is reshaping every professional discipline – yet, in research administration, adoption has lagged due to compliance, data sensitivity, and resource limitations. This topic speaks to that tension: how to responsibly and practically use AI tools to streamline research administration and clinical processes, improve accuracy, and empower overworked staff.

Speakers

• Istvan Fekete, Principal, Attain Partners
• Sylvia Bradshaw, Exec. Director of Sponsored Programs, Southern Utah University

Audit Alert! Can You Crack the Post-Award Puzzle?
Sunday, August 2 | 4p – 5p ET | Sutton North, Center South, 2nd Floor

This interactive session transforms post-award compliance into a high-energy escape room experience. Participants will work in teams to solve a series of financial and compliance puzzles designed to simulate a real-world audit scenario. Each puzzle station is built around a strategic theme to reinforce key concepts and promote collaborative problem-solving. The session is designed to reinforce key compliance concepts while promoting collaboration, problem-solving, and strategic thinking. Whether you’re in central administration or a department role, this session will help you sharpen your audit readiness skills in a fun and memorable way.

Learning Objectives

• Apply post-award compliance knowledge to solve realistic audit challenges.
• Identify common pitfalls in documentation, effort reporting, cost share, and indirect cost management.
• Strengthen understanding of internal controls and audit preparedness with limited resources.
• Recognize financial red flags related to research security and foreign collaborations.
• Interpret AI-generated insights to detect anomalies and support compliance.
• Collaborate with peers to troubleshoot financial scenarios and share best practices.

Speakers

• Shacey Temperly, Managing Director, Attain Partners
• Miranda Burnisky, Financial Specialist-Senior Supervisor, Penn State College of Medicine Milton S. Hershey Medical Ctr
• Zachary Byrnes, Associate Director for Grants Management and Contracting, Office of Sponsored Programs, University of Pittsburgh

Monday, August 3, 2026

NCURA Live: A Special Event at the 68th Annual Meeting
Monday, August 3 | 8:30a – 9:45a ET | Grand Ballroom, 3rd Floor

Step into the conversation shaping research administration right now.

This is not a traditional panel. It’s a live, unscripted conversation tackling the biggest issues facing our profession today. From funding uncertainty and research security to AI, workforce challenges, and global collaboration, expert voices will share real-time insights on what’s changing and what it means.

Moderating the conversation is Paul Mecurio, comedian, former lawyer, and host of Inside Out with Paul Mecurio, known for leading thoughtful, energetic conversations that go beyond surface-level discussion with humor, authenticity, and insight.

Submit questions in advance and bring your questions live to the room.

One conversation. Big questions. Real answers. Only in NYC.

Speakers

• Gilbert Tran, Senior Specialist Leader and OMB Emeritus, Attain Partners
• Dan Harmon, Director, Data & Systems, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Dipti Pandya, Chair, European Association of Research Managers and Administrators
• Mindy Pava, Partner, Feldesman LLP

Service Centers: Principles for Monitoring and Compliance and Application to OMB/ FAIR Models
Monday, August 3 | 10:15a – 11:30a | Beekman, 2nd Floor

The session will cover how to structure a compliant service center monitoring program at a research institution and provide everyday examples of service centers. Then, based upon the most current OBM (JAG) model, the session will cover the use of service centers in charging institutional support costs to the Direct Cost” section of grants and contracts. The focus will be on the costing pre-award and post-award perspective. The session will describe the responsibilities of each department. These will include: costing staff, measuring and allocating the support costs, the pre-award staff budget correctly and the post- award team recording and monitoring these costs.

Learning Objectives

• After the session, all participants will have an understanding of how service centers work and each department’s responsibilities with a compliant monitoring program.
• Related to charging support costs as direct costs, the costing staff will have an understanding of the measurement and allocation of these costs.
• The pre-award staff will understand the choices to correctly budget institutional support costs.
• The post-award staff will understand the recording and monitoring of these costs.

Speakers

• Robert Cohen, Managing Director, Attain Partners
• Gilbert Tran, Senior Specialist Leader and OMB Emeritus, Attain Partners
• Suzanne Locke, Director, Research Finance, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• Karen Renaud, Director-Research Finance, Boston Children’s Hospital

AI Strategy by Design: Making Smart, Sustainable Investments in Research Administration
Monday, August 3 | 1p – 2p ET | Trianon Ballroom, 3rd Floor

As artificial intelligence reshapes the research enterprise, the question facing institutional leaders is no longer whether to adopt AI; it’s where and how to invest for meaningful impact. As new tools and capabilities emerge at a rapid pace, research organizations must take a strategic approach to identifying AI initiatives that align with their mission, compliance obligations, and organizational capacity. This session equips attendees with a practical framework for building an AI strategic plan for research administration – one that balances innovation, governance, and institutional readiness. We’ll explore how to evaluate potential AI investments based on value, feasibility, and risk, and how to plan for implementation to ensure maximum adoption and long-term success. Grounded in principles of change management and strategic alignment, the session will also address how to engage stakeholders, communicate vision, and create a culture of responsible experimentation.

Learning Objectives

• Apply a strategic framework to evaluate AI opportunities: Identify and prioritize potential AI initiatives in research administration using criteria such as mission alignment, ROI, compliance risk, and institutional feasibility.
• Assess institutional readiness and governance needs: Evaluate factors that influence an institution’s capacity to implement and sustain AI initiatives successfully.
• Develop a phased roadmap for AI integration and change leadership: Translate strategic priorities into actionable plans that include stakeholder engagement, communication, and metrics for long-term success.

Speakers

• Kathleen Halley-Octa, Senior Manager, Attain Partners
• Gayle Sherwood, Research Administrator, California State University, Monterey Bay
• Carolyn Simms, Assistant Director, HRPP, ORIA, Georgia Institute of Technology

Attain Partners Sponsor Information Session
Monday, August 3 | 1p – 2p ET | Murray Hill West, 2nd Floor

Key Aspects of Post-Award Administration
Monday, August 3 | 2:30p – 3:30p ET | Gramercy, 2nd Floor

This session will cover all aspects of Post-Award administration, starting with the beginning of the Post-Award process, review of award notices, and setup of the project within a departmental financial system through the end of the process, assisting the Research Finance Office with the analytics of the final financial report. The presenters will include Post-Award Directors from both an Institute of Higher Education and a Hospital who will identify industry best practices. They will present valuable tips on how to control the grant activity and communicate essentials to both the Principal Investigator and the Central Finance Office.

Learning Objectives

• Participants will gain an understanding of the various tasks of post-award research administration.
• The session will cover all key aspects of post-award administration from the beginning of the cycle through closeout of projects and audits.
• Attendees will be able to correlate their responsibilities to the different tasks associated with post-award research administration.

Speakers

• Robert Cohen, Managing Director, Attain Partners
• Suzanne Locke, Director, Research Finance, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• Karen Renaud, Director-Research Finance, Boston Children’s Hospital

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Hot Issues in Grants Featuring the Latest Uniform Guidance Revisions
Tuesday, August 4 | 8:30a – 9:30a ET | Sutton North, Center South, 2nd Floor

Uniform Guidance Reconstruction: Proposed

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published in the Federal Register a massive reconstruction plan for the Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR 200 (UG) (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-05-29/pdf/2026-10817.pdf). This 412-page document includes revisions to all six Subparts and various Appendices of the UG. Seventy-four (74) sections out of 191 total sections in the UG (or 39 percent) are proposed to be revised, and 4 brand new sections are proposed to be added. The proposal has received over 51,000 comment letters and congressional attention on its intent and impact to grants, particularly research grants.

This session will highlight the major proposed revisions by Subparts, along with their potential impact on grant administration. It will inform you of the background, intent, and justifications for the major proposed revisions so you can assess their impact on your institution.

The session will include an update on the Joint Associations Group (JAG) activities regarding its proposed costing model for charging research costs – the FAIR model (Financial Accountability in Research).

Learning Objectives

• OMB’s 2026 proposed revisions to the Uniform Guidance:
  • The background,
  • The intent,
  • The justifications,
  • The impact of the major proposed revisions, and
  • The likely outcomes in the final revisions
• A high-level understanding of the Joint Association Group: the FAIR model (Financial Accountability in Research) and its status for implementation

Speaker

• Gilbert Tran, Senior Specialist Leader and OMB Emeritus, Attain Partners

Efficiency First: 10 Post-Award Tools to Save Time and Reduce Risk
Tuesday, August 4 | 9:45a – 10:45a ET | Sutton North, Center South, 2nd Floor

In an era of limited resources and increasing compliance demands, post-award professionals need smart, scalable solutions to stay ahead. This fast-paced, interactive session delivers exactly that: ten practical tools that help research administrators save time, reduce risk, and elevate their financial oversight. From Excel formulas and templates to free automation platforms and reporting dashboards, each hack is designed to be low-cost, high-impact, and immediately actionable. Whether you’re managing a large portfolio or flying solo, you’ll discover creative ways to streamline your work and strengthen compliance. The session features live demonstrations, real-world use cases, and practical tips for applying each tool. Attendees will leave energized and equipped with a curated toolkit of solutions they can implement right away, no budget approvals required.

Learning Objectives

• Discover ten practical tools that support post-award financial management with limited resources.
• Apply Excel-based techniques for budget monitoring, forecasting, and compliance tracking.
• Explore free or low-cost platforms that automate routine post-award tasks.
• Evaluate tools based on impact, ease of use, and scalability.
• Learn practical tips and shortcuts to maximize efficiency and reduce risk.
• Leave with a downloadable toolkit and implementation guide ready for use.

Speakers

• Shacey Temperly, Managing Director, Attain Partners
• Miranda Burnisky, Financial Specialist-Senior Supervisor, Penn State College of Medicine Milton S. Hershey Medical Ctr