Research Security Team

The Research Security Team provides support to the HMS and HSDM communities with research security and export control reviews and guidance related to:

Items, Intellectual Property, and Data Leaving the US

  • International shipments of research materials (MTAs, eShip, FedEx, etc.) 
  • Hand carries (research materials, equipment, and/or electronic devices) and travel attestations
  • Sharing unpublished information or data with a person outside of the US 
  • Research at an international site 

Foreign Relationships

  • Collaborations or agreements with foreign entities and individuals prior to the initiation of the relationship
  • HSRs (Harvard Sponsored Roles) working outside of the US during any part of the collaboration time
  • Existing outside activity agreements, including outside personal foreign agreements, for inclusion in and or/attachment to Other Support
  • Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs (MFTRPs) 

Foreign Financial Transactions

  • Activities involving comprehensively sanctioned countries (gifts, foreign vendors, subrecipients, entities, travel, educational services, etc.)
  • New international vendors or sponsors 

Additional Screening and Reviews

  • H1-B/O-1 Deemed Export Control Certification forms
  • Specially Designated National (SDN) screens and resolution of potential positive matches (or “hits”)
  • Visiting scientists, researchers, faculty, postdocs, etc. 
  • Any other international collaboration related questions or activities where you are unsure if there may be an export control or research security related concern.

The International Collaborations inbox is monitored by the ORA Research Security Team. Emailing International_Collaborations@hms.harvard.edu is the most effective way to connect with a team member for assistance or be redirected to another ORA team member for follow-up.