Efforts progress to streamline research administration
A cross-organizational partnership, which joins the efforts of the offices of the Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Provost, has made progress in its efforts to streamline research-related processes.
Since announced in November 2021, the partnership has engaged in two significant activities aimed at streamlining research administration processes, procedures and systems:
- Integrated research administration study: A holistic review of research administration processes, conducted by Fischer and Associates, began in April 2022 and has included development of a detailed project plan; interviews with 10 partner offices and associate deans for research in each college and school/institute; and 21 listening sessions with faculty invited from 10 colleges. A preliminary report was delivered to Purdue in September 2022, and the final report along with prioritized recommendations will be complete in December 2022.
- Selection of a new electronic research administration (eRA) system: Stakeholders including Associate Deans for Research, Sponsored Program Services, Regulatory and Compliance Offices, and ITaP, are reviewing proposals to replace Purdue’s multiple electronic systems with a single new modern system that provides state-of-the-art capabilities needed to support Purdue’s growing research enterprise. Once fully implemented, the new eRA system will includes processing, management and oversight of proposals; negotiation/agreement management; award tracking and monitoring; Human Research Protection Program and Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocol management; Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee protocol management; Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) protocol management; Conflict of Interest/Financial Conflicts of Interest; and Export Controls. Purdue faculty and staff who participated in the study are being invited to attend the upcoming vendor demos.
Anyone in the Purdue community who is interested in attending the vendor demonstrations or who has general questions about the process should contact Kim Gascho, lead IT business analyst, Sponsored Program Services (kgascho@purdue.edu).