Office of Research Services: Overview

Office of Research Services Overview

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 Section of Research Funding strives to increase funding for research and other programs in the Division by a combination of activities. The Section publishes weekly and monthly newsletters on funding opportunities, manages the Faculty Awards Committee and the selection process for the nomination-only/prestigious awards (Pew, Searle, etc), and manages the internal award selection process.

The Section of Grant and Contract Management facilitates the proposal submission and award management process by providing key pre- and post-award support to the faculty and staff of the division. The 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 endorsement.

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).

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 (AUTC), Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), and IACUC/IBC Safety programs.