Office of the Vice Provost for Research (OVPR) Understanding the World of Research and Scholarship At the University of Delaware

OVPR Mission To advance the research enterprise at UD by promoting an environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, and community.

Goals for OVPR To foster quality research and scholarship To encourage inquiry into new and emerging fields To advocate for research needs and resources To provide effective support and tools required to pursue opportunities To ensure compliance with all policies and procedures To market faculty talent and university capabilities To translate UD created inventions and technologies into commercially marketable products

OVPR Organizational Chart Vice Provost for Research Carolyn Thoroughgood Asst. Provost for Research Mgt. & Ops. Christine Cook Assoc. Provost for Research Intell. Property Richard Holsten

UD OVPR Organization: Assistant Provost for Research Management and Operations Sponsored program administration— Pre-award processing, contract negotiation, award set-up, award management, subcontract management Sponsored research accounting— Billing, audits, report creation, effort certification, cost sharing funds Grants system administration— Web development, file server and back-up configuration, desktop support, PS functional support Funding opportunities— UDRF, GUR, and Limited proposal submission support

OVPR Organization: Associate Provost for Research Intellectual Property Patents/copyrights, inter-institutional agreements, UDTC support Technology Transfer Licenses/contracts, other agreements Research Integrity/Compliance Responsible research conduct, human subjects, animal care, conflict of interest, radiation, chemical, and biological safety Proposal/technical writing support Center development, contractual guidance, research marketing support

OVPR Facts: Sponsored Activity FY 2005 FY2006 Proposals submitted Awards received Amount awarded 89.7M 71.5M Research expenditures $140.1M $148.8M

OVPR Facts: IP FY 2005 FY2006 #Invention Disclosures # Provisional Applications filed # Utility Applications filed18 27 # Patents Issued 11 6 # Licenses signed 2 2 Over the last 5 years:  Income to UD from IP = $2+ M, plus additional research support to UD directly tied to IP = $1.4M

What federal agencies fund research at UD?

Types of Agreements Contracts –Fixed Price –Cost Reimbursement –Government’s Role—Purchaser Grant –Government’s Role—Supporter Cooperative Agreement –Government’s Role—Partner

Who is eligible to Serve as PI? Individuals holding permanent tenure-track faculty rank -- or – Research scientist/project director or those recommended by Dean and approved by Vice Provost for Research

Proposal Writing: Helpful Resources… Funding Searches: Start with The Community of Science database: Find: Funding→ Funding Opportunities→ [Simple Search/Main Search/Search by Sponsor/Keyword] Daily Federal Register: access through the Government Printing Office CRIS: USDA database Commerce Business Daily: can access through COS UM Proposal Writer’s Guide: Plus many books

Grant Writing: A Low Probability Game!! Proposal success rates average 20 to 33 percent More than half are rejected on first reading because: --Applicant did not follow directions --Proposal did not match program

Step-by-Step Proposal Prep at UD Step 1: Locate a potential sponsor –Is the grant program limited term –Is cost sharing required Step 2: Develop the proposal –Avoid common pitfalls –Seek help from mentors Step 3: Contact the departmental financial office and OVPR –Budget preparation –Execution of required forms and signatures –Compliance with sponsor and university requirements affecting research OVPR submits the proposal –Contractual negotiations and award execution

Proposal Submission Deadlines –Must be to OVPR 48 hours before due at funder –Most agency deadlines are final –Overnight delivery may work Electronic Submission –Contact department and OVPR administrators early –Doesn’t always work the first time Tracking –Follow until proposal has been funded, declined, or withdrawn

Unacceptable Contract Terms and Conditions Agreements cannot be subject to the laws of other states or not comply with UD policies and procedures. UD must preserve the right to publish results of research done by faculty and students; UD does not undertake classified research. UD holds title to IP that results from research carried out by UD faculty and students.

UD Keeps Promises: Award = Legally Binding Agreement Fulfill all requirements set by sponsor Meet schedule and due dates for reports Comply with restrictions placed by sponsor NOTE: PI is responsible for all fiscal and technical aspects of project!! Sponsors have withheld funds awaiting reports called for in their awards!! No cost extensions mean delay in future funding!!

Major Compliance Issues Professional ethics and responsible research conduct: research integrity, conflict of interest, human subjects, animal care, radiation, chemical, and biological safety A-110 Administrative Requirements A-21 Cost Principles Cost Accounting Cost Sharing Effort Reporting

What are the Risks? Individual debarment from future funds Retraction of publications Loss of respect for the individual and UD Fines— –University of Minnesota paid $32 M to NIH for a “pervasive environment of non-compliance” –Northwestern University paid $5.5 M for effort reporting lapses –South Florida paid $4.1 M for unallowable charges and incomplete effort reporting

OVPR is here to help you!! Contact us and Check our website: