WPIC Research Administrators’ Forum February 11, 2009
HR Updates Temporary Service Changes UPMC Code of Conduct UPMC Management Resource Portal Centralized Leave Management Program for Employees Act 73 cost has increased on 11/3/08 to $36
Office of Grants & Contracts New Staff Ryan Stoner, Personnel Team OGC Website Internal UPMC website Communication instrument between the OGC and WPIC research programs “Live” document Suggestions for Website link
Department of Psychiatry RESEARCH BUDGET Research Administrators Forum February 11, 2009
The Three-Headed Monster Decreases in NIH grant funding and thus indirect income; cautious spending by PI’s exacerbates the decline in income State appropriation has been cut and further cuts are expected as economic downturn continues and states face major deficits Stock market downturn has erased endowment income and eliminated the option to subsidize operations from this source
Consequences We are facing a significant budget shortfall for FY 09 Measures are required to reduce FY 09 budget shortfall and to balance the FY 10 budget proposal (which is to be developed over the next two months)
Budget Measures are Painful but Necessary Hard-funded position freeze continues – only essential positions can be approved and justification is required for each position, including replacement positions Elimination of hard-funded positions may be necessary – position cutting has begun in research infrastructure and administrative areas
Budget Measures Reduction in PI Hard Fund Allocation for Second half of FY 09 from 15% to 10% of net indirect income generated is necessary to meet FY 09 budget goals. This measure may require reductions in PI’s research infrastructure. FY10 allocation percentages have not been set, but reductions are likely to continue
Budget Measures SOM has requested in-depth review of externally leased space Please comply promptly with requests for review of current space utilization
How Faculty and Research Administrators Can Help Spend soft funds as budgeted to generate indirect income for your program and the institution Reduce hard-funded positions to absolutely necessary staffing; review current staffing to make sure costs can be accommodated within reduced budgets Maximize existing space – space contractions are necessary when funding contracts
Merit Increases Despite budget shortages, we are seeing a significant percentage of above average raises Above average raises are not sustainable in light of flat grant budgets – even at the 3.5% average increase, your personnel costs will have increased by 15% by Year 05 of the grant – at 5% increases, you will have a 22% shortfall in personnel budget
NIH Policy Changes Fiscal Year 2009
Significant Changes Outcome of a Comprehensive Effort to Improve the NIH Peer Review Process Resubmissions Scoring New Investigator and Early Stage Investigator Designation
Resubmission Policy Beginning in January 2009, all original new applications and competing renewal applications will be allowed only a single amendment, i.e. one resubmission. This policy applies to all grant types. Any grants submitted in 2008 will still have the opportunity to resubmit twice, if not funded upon first or second try.
Scoring Method Current method: 1 to 5 scale scored in .1 increments. Average score of all reviewers times 100 = priority score reported in Summary Statement New scoring system effective January 2009 submissions: 9 point rating scale 1= exceptional, 9=poor Fewer scoring options, greater range Percentile rankings: newly calculated from May 2009
Scoring Method Applications ranked and scored along five dimensions, all five reported in Summary Statement: Significance Investigator(s) Innovation Approach Environment Overall Impact Score (range 10-90) also reported in Summary Statement “Not Recommended for Further Consideration” – grants designated as such will not go through full review and cannot be resubmitted
New and Early Stage Investigators NIH intends to support new investigators at success rates comparable to those of established investigators. NIH plans to cluster New and ESI PI’s application in the peer review process so that career stage of investigator can be appropriately considered. We have evidence that New investigators are given consideration in pay lines.
New and Early Stage Investigators New investigator: PI who has not previously had a significant NIH research award Early Stage Investigator (ESI): Within 10 years of completing his/her terminal degree or within 10 years from medical residency NIH encourages New and ESI PI’s to apply for R01’s rather than smaller mechanisms of support (R21 or R03)