Transcript Building Research Infrastructure: the University Perspective

Building Research Capacity
from a University Perspective
Ann Nichols-Casebolt, Ph.D.
Virginia Commonwealth University
Associate Vice President for Research Development
Professor, School of Social Work
Virginia Commonwealth
University
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Public research university w/medical
school
More than 30,000 students
Social Work largest graduate program
with almost 500 students
Sponsored program awards in FY2007
over $227M
Associate Vice President for
Research Development
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Newly created position December 2005
Vice President for Research (a microbiologist) sought
me out because:
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Not from health sciences campus
Knowledge of research across campus
“People” skills
My role: To work as a collaborator, initiator and
facilitator to help grow and sustain the research
enterprise at VCU by supporting faculty (directly &
indirectly) in their efforts to secure funding for their
research and scholarship
Activities as Associate VP
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Identify interdisciplinary funding opportunities and bring
potential cross-campus collaborators together
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Facilitate, coordinate & participate in interdisciplinary research
groups
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NSF working group
Identify & implement new research-related initiatives
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Computational modeling group
Office of Postdoctoral Services
Undergraduate Research Initiative
Convene the “Research Development Advisory Council”
Problem-solve sponsored research issues raised by faculty (e.g.,
IRB issues, sponsored programs, etc.)
Identify supports needed to facilitate sponsored research – how
can the university assist in unit-level capacity building?
Enhancing research capacity
at the unit level: The basics
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Understanding the university
perspective
Aligning unit perspective (and actions)
with university perspective
Leveraging university resources for
building capacity
Research capacity: What it
takes
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Lynn’s principles
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Program’s mission defined with reference to
institution’s mission
Investment in human capital
Investment in infrastructure (facilities and people)
Incentives for performance
Development and protection of intellectual
property
Regular review of outcomes
Understanding the university
perspective
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Does importance of extramural research
funding come from the highest levels?
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Is it built into the university strategic
plan?
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Is the focus on federal funding?
What are the specific initiatives?
What resources has the university
invested in building research capacity?
How does the unit fit into this
perspective?
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What does the unit strategic plan say
about extramural funding?
What expectations have been set for
faculty?
What have been the research strengths
of recent faculty hires?
What unit resources have been devoted
to building research capacity?
The groundwork for
developing research capacity
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Establish a strategic plan that includes research
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Identify strengths
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Do faculty have the potential for obtaining extramural
funding – particularly federal funding?
Identify what has been accomplished
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Show importance of extramural RESEARCH funding
What is the evidence that faculty are “poised” for the next
step?
Identify where you want to build and why
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How does it fit with university priorities?
How does it fit with university initiatives (e.g., CTSA)
The groundwork
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Identify needs for building & sustaining
research capacity
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Identify strategies for meeting needs
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Faculty development
Administrative resources
What will/can be done within the unit?
What is needed from the university?
Establish measurable outcomes if the unit
receives what is needed
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Milestones with target dates (e.g., # of submitted
proposals to federal funders, etc.)
Potential areas of university
support
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Direct support to meet goals
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Start-up packages for new hires with strong research
agendas
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Pilot project funding
Faculty development activities
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1st year supplemental support
Summer salary
Graduate assistant
Space
Specialized workshops
Travel to NIH/NSF
Assistance with collaborative efforts
Strategies that contribute to
leveraging resources & building
capacity
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Give social work visibility in “research circles”
on campus
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Attend trainings
Attend research presentations
Identify and participate in research groups
Volunteer to serve on the IRB
Do assertive outreach
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Connect with other units that are potential
collaborators
Strategies
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Get to know key university officials
Request VP for Research to talk about
research enterprise at a “research retreat”
Schedule a research showcase
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Invite faculty from potential collaborative units
Invite VP for Research
Focus on where you are going, not just where you
are or have been
Strategies
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Demonstrate that faculty take advantage of
existing university resources
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Grant writing workshops/training
Grant “writer”
IRB assistance
CTSA incubator
Office of Sponsored Programs
Technology transfer/intellectual property
Most important message
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The driving force to build research
capacity cannot be about meeting some
university mandate .. it must be about
helping your faculty conduct research
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that excites them,
that can advance the knowledge base of
the profession, and
that has the potential for making a
difference.