1. WPIC Research Administrators Forum October 14, 2009
Research Updates
WPIC Research Administrators Forum
October 14, 2009

2. Chair Transition: Welcome, Dr. Lewis!
As was announced to faculty and staff on September 29, Dr. David Lewis has been appointed Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Medical Director of WPIC, following a national search. Dr. Lewis will assume his position on October 15, 2009.
Dr. Lewis research career has focused on identifying disease mechanism in schizophrenia. He ranks among the most prominent translational neuroscientists in the United States.
Dr. Lewis has been at WPIC since 1987 and holds an endowed chair, the UPMC Chair in Translational Neuroscience . He directs the Translational Neuroscience Program and is PI of a substantial NIH research portfolio, including a Conte Center and a MERIT award.

3. Chair Transition: Thank you, Dr. Kupfer!
Dr. David Kupfer has directed the Department of Psychiatry for 26 years, a period when WPIC rose to national and international prominence.
We had the opportunity to celebrate his outstanding service in this capacity in 2008 when WPIC organized a “Festschrift” on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his chairmanship.
While he is retiring from his chairmanship, Dr. Kupfer will remain in the Department and continue to serve in various capacities. He will also continue to pursue his own research interests in the areas of unipolar depression, bipolar illness, medical comorbidities and sleep.

4. FY09NIH Awards: GOOD NEWS!
Federal Fiscal Year 2009 ended September 30, Final data will not be available for several weeks, but preliminary data show that
Hard work in 2008/2009 has paid off: Substantial 13% increase in awards from FY 2008! Only about half of this increase is related to Stimulus funds
Preliminary Award Data show that we have maintained # 1 Ranking among Departments of Psychiatry in the US with regard to NIH Funding

5. Stimulus Awards: GOOD NEWS!
We were very successful with our Stimulus submissions (as was the University as a whole)
While data are not yet complete, we already know that our success rates for some Stimulus mechanisms was about 4 times the national average (e.g. Challenge Grants had 3% overall success rate)
About 20% of requested administrative supplements were awarded
As of now WPIC has received over $ 5 million in Stimulus funds; more is coming in in the form of subawards from other departments or institutions

6. FY10 Budget: NOT SO GOOD NEWS !
Despite the increase in funding for FFY2010, our FY10 budget had to be based on FY09 Indirect Income.
Reinstatement of Research Incentives to faculty required a further 10% cut of all hard-funded expenses (See Dr. Kupfer’s memo to faculty of August 11, 2009)
This further cut is leaving many research and infrastructuture departments seriously understaffed. Mututal patience will be required as we all try to do more work with less staff, but we cannot staff up until income has improved!

7. FY10 Outlook
Spending of grants as budgeted is the key to your and our ongoing budget problems.
Increased spending of increasing grant volume will solve our budget problems later this year and into FY11.
We restructured expense reports to facilitate tracking of grant spending, identify target spending rates and off-budget items.
We need the PI’s and your help in achieving acceptable spending levels on grants in FY10!

8. NIH Updates
Transition to new application format for all submissions with due dates after January 26, 2010, including resubmissions of previously reviewed grants
Most grant mechanisms transitioning from 25 to 12 page format – be prepared!
For detailed information go to NIH website and search for “Enhancing Peer Review” and look for updated implementation guideline and guide notice NOT-OD-149