Strategy: Strengthen research at all levels by facilitating the application for and management of grants of all sizes across disciplines

Point People: Barry Klein and Neal Van Alfen

Narrative Summary of First Year Implementation Efforts:

The Office of Research has been actively engaged in the facilitation of the application for and management of contracts and grants of all sizes across disciplines. New developments within the office’s organizational structure include the formation of a single office that will serve faculty and the business/industry community to facilitate the dissemination of UC Davis technology for the public benefit. The Office of Technology and Industry Alliances (OTIA) merges four existing Office of Research units, namely the Technology Transfer Center, Industry Research Alliances, Technology Business Development, and UC Davis CONNECT. OTIA is scheduled to relocate to the Research Park this summer. In addition, the Office of Interdisciplinary Research Support was developed to encourage and facilitate the preparation of large-scale and multi-disciplinary research grant proposals, which support the campus’s research priorities.

Also during this past year, the Office of Research identified an Electronic Research Administration system and requested funds for purchase and implementation. The office strengthened its research training programs both internally and across campus. The Sponsored Programs Office has established weekly staff training sessions and provides external professional enhancement opportunities. The Office of Research is developing a campus-wide, certificate training series in Research Administration. A two-day workshop on proposal development targeted to the Humanities and Social Sciences was also held.

Advances and Ongoing Programs Consistent with Strategy:

• Revamping of the Office of Research web site, with completion by summer 2004
• Identification of an Electronic Research Administration (ERA) system. We have requested budgetary support. AD3 and AC4 have both endorsed the InfoEd product. The business processes and a roll-out plan is being developed by the Steering and Implementation team.
• Development of a campus-wide Research Administration certificate series program
• A Research Administration Breakfast Club has been started. It is a monthly open forum meeting for anyone on campus involved in research administration.
• A two-day workshop on proposal development targeted to Humanities and Social Sciences, jointly sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost–Academic Personnel and Office of Research
• Development of a new office, the Office of Technology and Industry Alliances (OTIA). The office will be led by Dr. Alan Bennett and will include the Technology Transfer Center, Industry Research Alliances, Technology Business Development, and UC Davis CONNECT. OTIA will be a primary point of contact for faculty and the business/industry community to relate to technology transfer and industry collaborations.
• Move of the contract and grant function formally handled by Business Contracts to the Sponsored Programs Office (SPO)
• Weekly staff training sessions in SPO
• Each SPO staff now belongs to a professional association and attends annual external meetings.
• A university Research Compliance Task Force established
• A new Research Compliance and Integrity Officer hired
• Development of the Office of Interdisciplinary Research Development, under the leadership of Dr. Richard Meisinger
• Recruitment of a cost analyst to review rates charged by Organized Research Units and other research units to avoid unallowable costs
• Master agreements set up with a number of industries, including Genentech

Short Statement of Plans for 2004-05:

• Develop a New Faculty Orientation for Research, planned for fall 2004
• Recruit an Associate Director of Sponsored Programs, who will review process efficiency and develop standard training programs
• Move the OTIA office to Research Park and include all relevant units in one location
• Develop a boilerplate for a campus-wide research affiliates program
• Establish efficiency and effectiveness measures for deciding when to patent new technologies
• Development of a Laboratory Managers Training Program, in conjunction with the Office of the Vice Provost–Academic Personnel and University Extension

Evaluation of Metrics:

In addition to the existing Strategic Plan metrics, additional metrics will be used:

• Increase in the number of material transfer agreements processed by the Technology Transfer Center
• Development of cost/benefit ratio analysis for decision-making in patenting technologies
• Reduction of the time-frame for negotiation of privately-funded research, especially in the area of clinical trials .