1. WPIC Research Administrators’ Forum
February 11, 2009

2. 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

3. 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

4. Department of Psychiatry
RESEARCH BUDGET
Research Administrators Forum
February 11, 2009

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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

9. Budget Measures
SOM has requested in-depth review of externally leased space
Please comply promptly with requests for review of current space utilization

10. 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

11. 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

12. NIH Policy Changes
Fiscal Year 2009

13. Significant Changes
Outcome of a Comprehensive Effort to Improve the NIH Peer Review Process
Resubmissions
Scoring
New Investigator and Early Stage Investigator Designation

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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.

18. 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)