1. HMS Efficiency Project
Cell Biology
Microbiology & Immunobiology
Neurobiology
Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology 
Systems Biology
Sponsored Programs Administration
RAS Friday – May 15, 2015
Rachel Cahoon, Director Sponsored Programs Administration

2. Efficiency Project – What and Why?
Cell Biology, Microbiology & Immunobiology, Neurobiology, and SPA participated in the “Optimizing Efficiency & Compliance” subgroup under the Shared Administrative Services work stream as part of HMSNext.
One of the questions the committee was charged with exploring was:
“Can we rationalize distribution of labor between research departments and central offices to minimize duplication of effort but maintain compliance?”
Cell Biology, Microbiology & Immunobiology, BCMP, and Neurobiology have been delegated signing authority to submit a pre-determined list of items directly to sponsoring agencies. {Systems Biology joined the Efficiency Project in March 2015.}
Reduce duplication, create efficiencies
Allow SPA to focus on areas where they can add value – more complex proposals and awards
Put more effort into training efforts, brown bag sessions, etc. that have fallen to the wayside
Work more proactively in portfolio mgmt
As part of the HMS NEXT initiative, a group of Central & Department research administrators were
tasked with minimizing duplication of effort while maintaining compliance. To this end, the group created a pilot
program whereby departments were responsible for review and submission of select proposals and post
submission administrative tasks. The pilot proved very successful and is being expanded to other departments.

3. Breakdown of Proposals: Sept. 2013 – Aug. 2014
SPA
EP Departments
86%
14%
Total requests: 1320 SP
A: 1137
Efficiency Project Departments: 183