Functions and Services

Director's Office 

Mary Houston, Assistant to the Director

The Office of Research Services’(ORS) mission and purpose is to provide a highly integrated structure that supports the expansion of research activities within the Division while providing excellent, compliant, state-of-the-art service to the faculty, researchers and divisional staff. ORS provides key information, guidance, and resources needed by faculty, staff and postdoctoral fellows as they develop research or other types of programs, seek and manage external funding while maintaining the divisional infrastructure necessary for successful research programs. ORS is also responsible for research regulatory compliance in the division as well as ensuring regulatory compliance in areas fundamental to the conduct of research. ORS is comprised of a Director and 5 Sections with a total staff of twenty-four. Brief descriptions of each section are provided below.

The Office is particularly interested in working with new faculty to identify appropriate funding sources, to transfer grants and equipment, and to develop appropriate regulatory approvals. Faculty are invited to meet individually with staff members or to meet together with representatives from each of the Sections to provide “one-stop” shopping. 

The office, which is part of the Dean's office, works closely with a variety of offices outside the Division. Major office interfaces are: University Research Administration, Office of Special Projects, Comptroller’s Office, University Legal, University Safety, Hospital Legal, Hospital Safety.

For more information call 2-6505.
 
 

Section of Research Funding 

Cherita White, Research Funding Administrator
Aparna Menon, Project Assistant

The Section of Research Funding strives to increase funding for research and other programs in the Division through a combination of activities. First, the Section maintains a library of funding information and stimulates the submission of proposals by publicizing or otherwise highlighting specific opportunities. Secondly, through its central role in the selection of candidates for limited opportunities, the Section supports Divisional and faculty interest in securing awards of high prestige and visibility. In addition, the Section plays a key role in competitive seed grants that are available from a variety of internally managed funding sources. 

Research Funding maintains a library of funding information in both print and electronic formats for fellowships, grants, and contracts from a range of sources, including federal and state agencies, private foundations, corporations, and professional organizations. The print library, which includes annual reports, solicitations and forms, is being increasingly complemented and enhanced through electronic information sources. These include the Biomedical Sciences Reports, the Grants Database, the COS (Community of Science) and IRIS, national databases of funding opportunities, as well as a rich array of funding information now available through the Internet. Using a combination of resources, Section staff use these materials to identify potential sources of funding for faculty, staff, and postdoctoral fellows through custom searches and to respond to faculty inquiries for agency guidelines and applications. The Section is using a new electronic matching system, FES/FONS to provide biweekly funding updates for participating faculty. 

The Biological Sciences Division is fortunate to have a number of substantial center awards, endowments, or other gifts which enable the institution to provide small, internal grants, often for junior faculty or pilot studies. The Section of Research Funding prepares and distributes a comprehensive guide to these programs, which currently include: the American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant; the Brain Research Foundation; the Clinical Nutrition and Research Unit; the Faculty Research Fund; the Diabetes Research Center; the Louis Block Fund. 

Research Funding coordinates the Prestigious Scholars Awards institutional nomination process for opportunities like the PEW Scholars Program or the Searle Scholars Program. Since the University of Chicago is invited to submit only a limited number of nominations, a selection process is essential and Research Funding provides the staffing and support for this process within the BSD. Some of these have narrow biomedical and biological foci and for these the BSD handles the entire procedure. Others, such as the Packard and Presidential Faculty Fellow awards, are broader and BSD, like the other divisions, is invited by the Provost's office to nominate candidates. The Dean's Faculty Awards Committee, chaired by Dr. Nancy Schwartz, selects BSD's candidates. 
 
 

Section of Grant and Contract Management

Terri Mascorro, Grant and Contract Administrator
Janice Stroud, Grant and Contract Administrator
Aparna Menon, Project Assistant

The Section of Grant and Contract Management works on behalf of the Division to facilitate proposal submission and award management by providing pre- and post-award support activities. In providing these services, the Section focuses on considerations of those issues of particular interest to the Division, while providing general grants administration services and advice.

On behalf of the Division, this section reviews and approves all proposals, regardless of the source of funding or the type of project (research, instructional, conference, travel, training, etc.), prior to institutional approval. This includes new proposals, revisions, non-competitive and competitive renewals, and supplements. The Section's review ensures that proposals reflect divisional, institutional and agency policies and guidelines and that awards received by the Division are appropriate and consistent with our expectations and needs. The University Research Administration Office provides final review and institutional signature for most proposals; under an on-going ORS/URA pilot, ORS has been granted authority to provide institutional sign-off for a number of NIH proposal categories. 

While awards are primarily negotiated by the staff of the University Research Administration Office, the Section reviews award documents to ensure that the award terms and conditions are acceptable from a Divisional stand point and works with the departments to clarify any points or to make necessary changes. The Section is also responsible for the Divisional review and approval of post-award modifications including such priority areas requests for no-cost extensions, re-budgeting requests that involve faculty salary, request to change principal investigators, and agency-required regulatory compliance certification letters. 

The section monitors developments and changes to both Divisional and University of Chicago policy, as well as those of the funding agencies and strives to interpret and present new issues and changes to the Division. In general, the Section works closely with departmental and program administrators and grants managers to assure compliance and appropriate grants management and oversight. It communicates changes in policies and procedures and undertakes training as resources allow. In addition, it serves as liaison to University Research Administration, the Comptroller's Office, Legal Counsel, and Medical Center Development, Faculty and Departmental Administrators.
 

Sections of Regulatory Compliance

Working in conjunction with the relevant chairs and other institutional offices, the staff monitor changes in these laws and regulations, changes in sensitivities within the public about research-related issues, and changes in the professional literature. This information is used to develop procedures and policies, protocol and consent forms, manuals and one-page instruction or guidelines which enhance protocol submission and review to assure compliance and an awareness of the legitimate concerns of the public. 

The Sections of Regulatory Compliance is divided into two units to more effectively administer the regulatory programs in the division.

Section of Regulatory Compliance for Human Subjects

Tasha Osafo, IRB Asst. Director
James Lynch, IRB Asst. Director of QA/Education, RDRC Administrator
Alicia Cook, IRB Administrator
Joanna Hill, IRB Administrator
Louisa Holaday, IRB Administrator
Christine Hudoba, IRB Administrator
Melanie Mace, IRB Administrator  
Jillian Navarro, IRB Administrator
Aaron Roberts, IRB Administrator
Nell Thompson, IRB Systems Administrator
Sherry Robison, IRB Project Assistant

The Section of Regulatory Compliance for Human Subjects is responsible for oversight of all research programs that involve the use of human subjects. The section manages the three Institutional Review Boards (IRB) in the Division and the University and University Hospitals Radioactive Drug Research Advisory Committee (RADRAC).
 
 

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

The IRB is responsible for assuring the protection of the rights and welfare of all research subjects, including patients and volunteer subjects. The committee, which meets monthly, is, therefore, charged with the review, approval and surveillance of all research involving human subjects carried out in the BSD and UCHS
 
 

University and University Hospitals Combined Use of Radioisotopes 
and Radioactive Drug Research Committee (RDRC)

Charged with review, approval and oversight of radioactive drugs, as well as the purchase and use of radioisotopes in humans, this committee meets quarterly. RDRC works closely with the Office of Radiation Safety to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.
 
 

Section of Regulatory Compliance for Laboratory Programs

Lenora Hallahan, Administrator, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
Pam Postlethwait, Administrator, Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
Lorinda Baker, IBC Administrator

The Section of Regulatory Compliance for Laboratory Programs is responsible for ensuring the division is in compliance with international, federal, state, local rules, regulations and guidelines, along with the ethical principles regarding aspects of laboratory research. This includes administering the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Animal Use in Teaching Committee (AUITC), Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), and IACUC/IBC Safety programs.
 
 

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

The IACUC assures the humane care and use of animals used in both research and teaching protocols and works closely with the Animal Resources Center (ARC) to ensure compliance. The Committee provides centralized review, approval and oversight for all animal use at the University of Chicago. In addition to its monthly meetings, the committee has established mechanisms for semi-annual facility inspections, review of routine continuations, protocol review (when appropriate) by subcommittee and a fast-track mechanism for the review of tissue only/dead animal use. 
 
 

Animal Use in Teaching Committee (AUTC)

This Divisional Committee meets as needed and reviews proposals for educational merit and ensures that animal use conforms to the University's standards, the Animal Welfare Act, and all other applicable governmental regulations.
 
 

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

This committee serves the entire University and provides review, approval and surveillance of all research protocols involving the use of biohazards, including recombinant DNA, agents potentially infectious to humans, animals or plants, and other genetically altered organisms and agents. The committee meets only semi-annually, but conducts much of its business through subcommittees and mail votes.