Research Support Core

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Research Support Core Overview Karen Klein,
MA, ELS Office of Research Research
Administrators Meeting January 13, 2005
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What is the Research Support Core?

• The Research Support Core (RSC) provides
  pre-award grant assistance to WFUHS faculty
• A variety of services are available to meet the
  needs of each Principal Investigator (PI)
• All assistance is free of charge

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Who is the Research Support Core?

• Karen Klein, Research Associate/Editor
• Laura Gammons, Administrative Asst
• Carol Massa, Project Manager
• Vicky Zickmund, Director, Research Development,
  Planning Operations
• Deans for Research (Drs. Friedman, Hutson,
  McCall, Shumaker)

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Background

• The RSC began in the Womens Health Center of
  Excellence (WHCoE) in July 2002
• Focus Pre-award grant assistance to women PIs
  and faculty doing womens health research
• Congruent with mission of the WHCoE

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Growth

• The RSC evolved into a broader pilot project
  with support from the Office of Research in 2003
• Services expanded to all WFUHS faculty
• Number of grants worked on increased 159 from
  2002-03 to 2003-04
• Dollars requested increased 250
• 1.8 million awarded to RSC clients as of
  6/30/04

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Dollars Requested/Awarded, FY 2002-3
45,000,000
40,000,000
35,000,000
30,000,000
25,000,000
20,000,000
15,000,000
11,935,837
8,870,005
10,000,000
5,000,000
3,065,832
1,135,063
74,396
1,060,667
0
Direct
Indirect
Total
Direct Awarded
Indirect
Total Awarded
Requested
Requested
Requested
Awarded
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Dollars Requested/Awarded, FY 2003-4
45,000,000
41,788,560
40,000,000
34,188,327
35,000,000
30,000,000
25,000,000
20,000,000
15,000,000
10,000,000
7,600,233
5,000,000
74,396
655,430
608,361
0
Indirect
Total Awarded
Direct
Indirect
Total
Direct Awarded
Requested
Requested
Requested
Awarded
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Faculty Use of RSC (by Rank)
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Faculty Use of RSC (through 6/30/04)
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Evolution

• Drs. Applegate Shumaker supported expansion of
  the RSC as an institution-wide service
• The RSC was placed in the Deans Office under the
  Office of Research as of 7/1/04
• This move enables the RSC to leverage the
  resources available via the Office of Research

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What is Pre-Award Assistance?

• Surveillance of funding sources
• Advice on research questions, specific aims,
  study design, and methodology
• Assembling pertinent information (e.g.,
  facilities infrastructure boilerplate, letters of
  support)
• Budget preparation (including justification)
• Editing the text for style, space, and strategic
  considerations

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New Services

• Facilitating coordinated responses to large,
  multi-departmental NIH Requests for Applications
  (RFAs).
• Goal Optimally responsive applications to RFAs
  where WFUHS can be competitive
• RFAs with potential will be identified
• The Office of Research will gather a team of
  faculty with pertinent expertise
• Will assess level of interest, likelihood of a
  competitive application, and extant synergies
• The RSC can assist with the proposal, as needed

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New Services

• Mini-study sections
• Goals Increasing the likelihood of funding
  optimizing PIs time and efforts
• For internal reviews of critiques on unfunded
  proposals before resubmission
• Group will consist of WFUHS faculty who are study
  section veterans
• Appropriate Deputy Associate Dean for Research
  will facilitate
• PIs will get timely, focused feedback on how to
  interpret and respond to critiques

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Where Do I Sign Up??

• Access the RSC by emailing us at
• rscore_at_wfubmc.edu
• PI then completes a Request for Assistance form
  to indicate specific needs
• A staff member will respond promptly

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He (or She) Who Hesitates

• The RSC is busiest before the standard NIH
  deadlines
• Encourage PIs to contact us early!
• We can provide better service when were in on
  the ground floor
• Due to volume, we may need to triage proposals

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Stay Tuned

• Some of you attended previous RSC workshops on
  grants and manuscripts
• Some have asked, When are you holding these
  again?
• Answer Soon!
• Look for details of upcoming events in Pursuit
  and elsewhere

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Questions?